Crab Legs and the Ladies

Long Branch restaurant, in Fayetteville, Ga is owned by a good friend of ours. Every Monday night, he features all you can eat Crab Legs. Both of our nieces love crab legs. Hence, when the girls are with us on Monday night Long Branch is where we dine. The first serving comes with 4-5 sections of 5 legs. And the feast begins. I was adised to be aware of the splash zone.

Each additional serving came with 2-3 sets of legs. The girls did not want to give up their plates. Those plates were their counters. They accumulated 18 plates of pride at our table. My dinner selection was steak, fries and salad. No crab legs for me.

They were so proud of their over flowing bucket. This one did have to be replaced with a new one. Our waitress was so thankful. I think she envisioned cleaning up legs off the floor.

Does this look like one happy little girl or what? Their was still more to come.

When eating all you can eat Crab legs, all manners are left outside.

This one is on a mission. At this point in the evening they wanted to see how much they could eat. We were there for so long that I was receiving free Heineken.

When we were leaving the restaurant this is what the sign read! The girls saw it and cracked up. Boy can those two little girls eat.

How to Saber a Champagne Bottle

Watching the Today show has brought me to the subject of Saber a bottle of champagne. This is the coolest technique. A few hints from the Today Show host was, champagne must be very cold, use a big knife and go with the seam in the bottle. Intrigue, watch the video below and let me know how it goes.

How to Saber a Champagne Bottle with Brice From Bubble Lounge
During the Napoleonic era, victories were often celebrated with a champagne saber. Learn how to remove the top of a champagne bottle using this impressive technique.
http://video.about.com/wine/Saber-a-Champagne-Bottle.htm

Mircle Times of Christmas

Ti's the night before Christmas, all my list are complete. The trees are shinning with colors so bright.

My, oh my, how did I do it? With each ticking moment the presents were wrapped.

Our family room tree wearing ornaments from near and far. They came from Georgia, and as far as Holland and Russia. From around the world they gathered for our holiday season.

Our stockings were unavailable but we made due. They were hung with eco-friendly, reusable bags for the whole year through.

While everyone slept with visions of fun, the guard pups guarded waiting for presents to come. They spotted their basket with toys, cookies and chewies. How can you sleep? When waiting for something new.

I love Christmas Eve night, when everyone is asleep. Everything is done and ready for the big day ahead. There is always a peace that settles over our household. Sometimes I enjoy a cup of hot chocolate and enjoy the lights. Is is always worth all the work when this time comes. I look forward to hearing the song, Mary Did You Know? What special moment do you enjoy at Christmas? Is there a time, place or maybe a song? Christmas is truly a time of miracles, big and small. What miracles do you wish for? Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday season.

Day After!

My two fuzzy little cocker spaniels have the right idea about the day after Christmas. No big meals, no shopping malls, no wrapping paper, no last minute items to do. The day after Christmas should be declared "National Stay In Your PJ's Day". My little girls are so smart. They know what is best for me, if only I would listen. What did you do for your day after Christmas?

Give A Way

Drivin' 55 is having a give away. It is a beautiful Christmas box with stand up album inside. Go to her site to enter. Good Luck. http://drivin55.blogspot.com/

What Christmas is all About!

The reason for my not blogging lately is in the photo above. They are my two darling nieces who I simple adore. The dark hair beauty lives in California and I only get to see her twice a year. The fair hair angel lives in Newnan and I see her often. They are both 12 with birthday's one month and one day apart. It has been such a pleasure for me to watch them grow. This Christmas they are still little girls with one foot in the pages of a teenager. It is so much fun! My poor little Dixie was almost lost in the photo. Hang in there Dix, they are only here for two weeks.

This summer the subject of digital cameras came up. Two years ago I gave both girls cameras. They have taken great care of them and used them a lot. They happen to tell me that this Christmas they would love a new PINK camera. Of course, Aunt Chere remembered with baited breath. Pant! Pant! This one special gift they get to open before Christmas, to take pictures of course.

Skylar got hers open first. There was pure joy on her face. And of course a big scream "IT'S PINK"!

Makayla was seconds behind in the excitement to tear open her gift. They both hugged, rolled on the floor yelling "IT'S PINK". To me, this is what gift giving is all about. It makes my heart sing to see the joy and thrill of these two beauties.

The budding little photographers were armed and ready at a family gathering last night. Mac is really getting into looking at her pictures and seeing how it looks. She will delete it if the photo is not to her liking. Skylar is still in the mode of click, click, click. That is the great thing about the digital world. Step one: click away at anything standing or sitting still, Step Two: down load photos to computer, Step Three: look at the picture, Step Four: decide what pictures you want to print, Step Five: print photos, Step Six: delete.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!!!! THREE DAYS AND COUNTING!!!!!!!

A Christmas Wish

My wishes for you today is that your Christmas to do list is shrinking. I will finish wrapping present today. That is my goal. Of course we have to go see Fred's brother in law. John is in the hospital in serious condition. My darling wants to go this afternoon instead of tonight. I would have liked to go tonight but, you know how husbands are. Hope everyone has a wonderful day. Enjoy our 75 degree weather. Tell a stranger today "Merry Christmas and smile"!

Help!

Merry Christmas to You!!!

I have determined that I am "OCD" when it comes to scrap book supplies. After spending the past two days going through bags and boxes of supplies and trying to find a place for them. I have looked at stuff and thought "Did I buy this" and "Why?". Help, I am drowning in stuff. Now I need a place for camera equipment.
Do you every feel like the inside of your house is taking over? That if you sit in one place long enough it will cover you up. That's my house. I have run out of places to hide the junk. Do you remember the little pads that you could draw on and then pull up the sheet and erase it? My house need to be built out of that stuff. If only the shop would get my magic wand fixed.

Okay guys, you have listen to me ramble. Thanks for the therapy session.

Is there a 12 step program for scrappers?

Christmas Humor

Could not resist this cute Christmas Cartoon. Christmas chuckle of the day.

Christmas Wish List

I'm making my list, checked it twice. But what do I want for Christmas? I still have my two front teeth. Santa, Have I been naughty or nice? If I have to asked I'm in trouble. So here goes Santa:
1. I always want happiness and safety for my children. No I will not ask for world peace.
2. Health for my family (all of it) and it is a big family.
3. Prosperity for 2009.

Okay now for the good stuff:
4. 85mm Canon lens
5. 24" monitor for my desk top
6. diamond loop ear rings (I lost one of mine this year)
7. win the Meg-a-Million (I'm wishing Debra)
8. new canon large format printer
9. the shop will fix my magic wand
10. wake up and be 50 pounds thinner
11. magic face and body lift in a bottle ($5.99 at Wal-Greens and pain free)

Santa, I am sure you could find a few things that I may like. I do not need every thing, but it would be nice. Have a safe trip coming to my house. Skip the chimney, the key is hanging on the back door. Merry Christmas to you and Mrs. Claus and a Happy New Year.

What is on your Christmas list?

Home Alone

Yes, I am home alone and celebrating. Fred and Dusty are in Savannah. Can you hear me dancing in my family room. Oh yeah, no one is home so it is just my room. I am looking forward to the following activities:

1. Watch what I want to watch on TV. No matter how stupid it is.
2. Eat and drink anything in the house with no comment from the peanut gallery.
3. Put my PJ's own at 6:00 PM.
4. Leave my PJ's own all day tomorrow.
5. All 3 of the dogs will get to sleep with me. Katie will sleep on Freddy's side.
6. Stay up all night and sleep until I want to get up in the morning.
7. Enjoy peace and quiet.
8. Stay downstairs in my Scrap Book room all night.
9. Play cards on my lap top until my fingers hurt.

Now don't get me wrong. I can and sometimes do all of the things above when my boys are at home. The big draw back is the lip I get from the two. I also have to work around other peoples schedules. I love my own thing in my own time. I so enjoy being home alone. Poor Kevin in the movie Home Alone was left accidentally. I chose to be at home. Savannah will be decorated in all it's Christmas glory. They will eat in a really nice restaurant. I could have gone shopping. But once more, I love being home alone.

Christmas Traditions

Clark: Where do you think you're going? Nobody's leaving. Nobody's walking out on this fun, old-fashioned family Christmas. No, no. We're all in this together. This is a full-blown, four-alarm holiday emergency here. We're gonna press on, and we're gonna have the hap, hap, happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny fing Kaye. And when Santa squeezes his fat white axx down that chimney tonight, he's gonna find the jolliest bunch of a-holes this side of the nuthouse. Chevy Chase National Lampoon Christmas Vacation

Our Christmas traditions are many. Some are very conservative and some are just not right. We attend church on Christmas eve, enjoy numerous dinners with family and friends. The highlight of our holiday is a family night of movies. At the top of our list is National Lampoon Christmas Vacation. We pop pop-corn, get something to drink and laugh until we cry. The quote above is the best. Let me set the scene, the Christmas tree is toast, the dog has pulled the table cloth off the table and pure chaos has made it way to the Griswall house hold. Everyone is prepared to leave when Clark (Chevy Chase) delivers this speech. I love it. Family Christmas's are a totally fun and hilarious time.

Let me also explain that I have a large family. I have 2 sisters and 1 brother on my Mothers side and 4 brothers on my Fathers side. I will let you figure all of that out. We get together with my Father's family every Christmas morning for brunch. This gathering also includes my Aunt and Uncle, my 2 cousins, wives and an assortment of nieces and nephews and now a new lab puppy and two boxer puppies. Picture fun loving total chaos. Recognize the quote above? My Mom's side gets together every other Christmas for a week of Christmas celebration. Sisters, Brother with husbands, wives,kids and two border collies come from near and far. You will find bodies sleeping in ever corner of my Mother's house. My own children will spend the night there adding more chaos to the mix. We only live 6 miles away.

The saying "making memories" is what comes from all the mess and disorder. I always look back with joy and laughter in my heart. What are your family traditions? What memories will you hope to make this Christmas? Whatever they may be remember the joy and laughter that will be stamped in your heart forever.

The Test Are In

Hip, Hip Hooray!! The test are done! I think I will live another day. All kidding aside, my nuclear stress test is normal. I have been a little worried. For someone who has been a diabetic for 46 years, I have the potential to have the heart of a 92 year old. Five years ago my heart test was normal and this year is also normal. Now at 51 I will have this test done every two years.
I am still having chest pains and shortness of breath. One of the side effects of diabetes is that I probably will not feel when or if I have a heart attack. The best sign I would have is shortness of breath. They think that the reason for all of this is a low hemoglobin. Mine is 8.5 and normal is 14-27. When you get in the 7's they start to think blood transfusion. But for now I will take my super iron pills and see what happens. I have to rest and not over do it. Orders from the Doc. The best Doctor in the world has prescribed one scrap club meeting with friends, laughter, a new little Diva and no stress. Sounds good Doris, see you Sunday bright and early.

Cutie Pies Under the Tree

Does this look like a happy crew or what? I needed 6 arms to take this photograph. First there was the groomer. Then we came home and had to get dressed. Katie doesn't mind her outfit at all. Bella is okay with the shirt but the hat needs to go. I had to keep saying "No, Bella, leave it on". The big problem was my little Dixie. As you can see she is pissed big time. I put her shirt on and she took off. While I was getting Bella ready she was hiding. I look all over for her. After noticing the basement door open I knew where she was. Poor little Dixie was hiding downstairs scared to death. I carried her upstairs patting her and telling what a good girl she is. Well you can see by the photo, that was as good as it got. No American Cocker Spaniel is suppose to wear a red Christmas shirt and a Santa hat. Just think, one day I will have grandchildren to torture. I really love these three four legged babies. They are so cute.

Scrap'in Good Christmas

Scrapbook magazines are full of great ideas this year. The project above is part of my mantle decorations this year. They were super simple and look great. I used 4 glass cylinder candle holders, 4 photos, 8 sheets of velum paper and tape. Edit photos in a photo editing software to black and white, print on velum paper, let dry and trim to height of cylinders, tape blank velumn to back of candle holders. tape printed sheet to front. Hint: Use light or white short candles. I used two dark ones and they showed through.

Drum roll please, this is the completed mantle. I used three large glass goblets and 3 decorative trees with assorted greenery. I stuffed white lights in the candle holders. They really do look the best. This was a fun little activity. On to Martha Stewart and her new glitter and glue.

I'm Sure, Just Gas

"Mitch: Value this time in your life kids, because this is the time in your life when you still have your choices, and it goes by so quickly. When you’re a teenager you think you can do anything, and you do. Your twenties are a blur. Your thirties, you raise your family, you make a little money and you think to yourself, What happened to my twenties? Your forties, you grow a little pot belly you grow another chin. The music starts to get too loud and one of your old girlfriends from high school becomes a grandmother. Your fifties you have a minor surgery. You’ll call it a procedure, but it’s a surgery. Your sixties you have a major surgery, the music is still loud but it doesn’t matter because you can’t hear it anyway. Seventies, you and the wife retire to Fort Lauderdale, you start eating dinner at two, lunch around ten, breakfast the night before. And you spend most of your time wandering around malls looking for the ultimate in soft yogurt and muttering How come the kids don’t call? How come the kids don’t call? By your eighties, you’ve had a major stroke, and you end up babbling to some Jamaican nurse who your wife can’t stand but who you call mama. Any questions?" Billy Crystal

This little speech by Billy Crystal from City Slickers is one of my favorites from a movie. He is telling this to his wife before his birthday. It is not my birthday but the fifties rings true. I have been having a few chest pains lately. Just a few and I am sure it is just gas. My dear cousins is a NP at our local hospital. My bright idea was to go and see her last night and let her tell me it is just gas. I met her at 9:00 PM and got back home at 4:00 AM. After numerous blood test, EKG, chest x-ray and a CAT scan of my lungs it was determined that my blood count is so low that I may have to have a transfusion. Here my blood is low and they are taking five tubes of blood the first time and three the second. Hi, give me back the blood. The test revealed that they do not see how I have been getting out of the bed in the morning. You think that is why I can't get out of my rut? Maybe, I may even be able to be cured. I am off to doctors today for more test. I am sure that it is just gas. Beano here I come plus four coated baby aspirin or 325mg. Most people only take one 81mg. Oh yeah, did I say that you can have a heart attack if your blood is to low. I am sure it is GAS!

A Smile in My Heart

Marlee looks marvelous. She has gained weight and is doing great. It is still hard day to day. She is gaining weight and not feeling bad about it. Her counselor says that it will take time and a lot of work. It is so hard to under stand how someone so beautiful can think they are ugly and fat. I do not understand this disease. Day by day and step by step, she will feel good about herself one day. She loves Boca Raton, Fl and is looking forward to getting a job. Please send your prays her way. It helped my heart to see her look so happy and healthy.