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.

Home From the Holiday

We departed on Thanksgiving to visit Marlee in Boca Raton, Fl. We were so lucky to get someone to take our picture on the beach. Katie had a great time too. The weather and the view from our hotel room was breath taking. The temperature was in the 80's everyday. While it was cold and raining in A-town we were driving around in a convertible with the top down. We had a great time with Marlee. Of course we went shopping. Marlee's favorite past time. It was a relaxed, fun, warm holiday week-end.

Gobble, Gobble

Wishing everyone a happy and safe Thanksgiving Day. Did you gobble till you wobbled? Fred and I enjoyed a beautiful sun set in Boca Raton, Fl. The temperature was a pleasant 75 degrees. We are looking forward to a warmer day tomorrow. Happy Shopping and Christmas decorating.

X*%%##XX, Etc., Etc.

My title sums up yesterday's list. I started out running a few errands. Carrying a simply list in my pocket with the following items: 1. book rings or snap rings, 2. 3 red, tall camellias, 3. have pool water tested, 4. vote and get something for dinner. I was late leaving the house due to my darling honey and my wonderful step-father. Their visit or issues were more important than any thing I had to do. (Do not forget that I had my big tree in the sun room at home waiting to be fluffed and decorated.) After visiting Lowes, Home Depot and Natures Nursery there are no red camellias to be found. So much for easy decorations for my front and back porch. Off for book rings, Lowes, Home Depot, Hobby Lobby and Joanns to find no book rings. What is the deal? I really had a hard time finding someone who knew what I was even looking for. Any good scrap booker worth their salt knows what a book ring is!!! The whole time during my search I am thinking that Georgia Rector probably has G-zillion (family word) in every size. Oh Yeah, quest for the day was 4 clear, glass, tall candle holders. The last stop was Stacey's. BIG ZERO, for that list. I came home with nothing on the list. Did I vote, get the pool water tested? NO! Am I going out of town tomorrow? YES! Well, thank goodness today is another day and thanks for reading my rant. Yesterday was truly a "chicken with it's head cut off day" as my honey and I relax before the TV last night eating O'Charley's take out. I never made it to Publix.

God's Glory

I just wanted to share another beautiful sun set at Shell Point Beach with you. The fall sun sets are the most beautiful. I wanted my dear husband to stand in front of the sea grass. That would have been a wonderful shot. Oh NO! He runs and Dixie run when they see me with a camera. God truly blessed us with his glory.

Mondays Update, Tuesdays List

Most of my laundry, Check. Still have one load to fold and then put it all away. Doing Good!!

This undecorated tree looks so sad. On my way to do something about that.

New bows for the top. I am changing colors this year. I am going from burgundy to red.

Mostly decorated and ready to go. Dixie has already put her balls under the tree. Maybe Santa will bring her some new ones.

Tuesdays List:

1. Finish laundry.

2. Fluff and decorate tree in sun room.

3. Go vote.

4. Check Nature's nursery for three red camellias.

I may get in the Christmas spirit yet. It is still sad that Marlee may not be at home this Christmas. I am still trying to come to grip with that.

Monday's Goals

I have always been a big listed maker. Lists for things to do tomorrow, lists for the grocery store, lists for places I need to go and things I need to do. As of late, I have not made any lists. Here lately, I really have not gotten anything acomplished. That is going to change today. Get the laddar and climb out of the rut.

MONDAY'S TO DO LIST:

1. Laudry, get a grip on my laudry room. The laudry is two weeks behind and needs my attention.

2. Make new bows for Christmas tree in the family room.

3. Decorate tree in the family room. (Yes, I have decided to re-do some things for this holiday season.

4. Bring the sunroom tree upstairs to the sun room.

5. Fluffy and have that tree ready to decorate tomorrow.

6. Make new bows for sun room tree.

7. Make reservations to go she Marlee at Christmas.

As you can see my list is not long but time comsuming. Fred and I are leaving Thanksgiving morning to go see Marlee in Boca Raton, Fl. I have 3 days to deocrate my house for Christmas. As I end this post I am off to start my day. Wish me luck.