Hodgepodge

Happy Hodgepodge Day, dear friends. Hope that you are all caught up on your shopping.  I wish I were.

1.   Many families have a story they love to tell every year around a holiday.  Does your family have one?  Are you the star of the story, or does another family member take center stage?  Share your story if you want.

When my #1 was about two years old, we hosted a Christmas party.  I let her help me greet the guests.  One of the guests was about eight months pregnant and wore a bright red dress.  

Our little loose cannon.

The minute #1 laid eyes on our guest she yelled out at the top of her lungs "You a HO!"  The woman frowned, and I had to explain to her that anyone who wore red was referred to "Ho" because that was her name for Santa.  I didn't want her to think my kid was making slanderous remarks.

That was also the year that she would scream out MICHAEL JORDAN!! whenever she saw a person of color.  Never a dull moment when we went out in public.

2.  Are you afraid to speak your own opinion?

It depends on the time and place.  At home, I am not afraid to speak my mind.  Ask the Mister. And the girls.

3.  Pantone has announced the color of the year for 2016 ad for the first time have chosen two shades - rose quartz and serenity.  Hmmmm... did you know serenity was a color?  You can read the thought behind their selection here, but essentially it's blending the warmth of rose quartz with the tranquility of a very soft shade of blue.  So what do you think?  Are these colors I'd find in your home or wardrobe?  Will you add something in these shades to either place in the new year?

You would find a paint color close to Serenity but no rose quartz.

4. If you could be in a Christmas Carol, which one would you choose?  Why?

I'm not sure I understand this question.

5.  December 9th is National Pastry Day.  Will you celebrate?  When did you last purchase something from a bakery?  What's your favorite treat that falls under the heading of pastry?  Do you make it yourself or buy from the professionals?

Whenever I try to talk the Mister into going somewhere with me, I always promise that the place sells cookies.  It works wonders.  This is the photo I put on my last post of macaroons stuffed with gelato.  I highly recommend them.

6.  When it comes to holiday decorating _____________________.

When it comes to holiday decorating, I'm always glad when it's over. 

7.  When did you last laugh so much it hurt?  Explain.

The last time that I enjoyed a good ol' belly laugh was when my buddy, Kate the Great came for a visit. I came close to buying a box of Depends that weekend.

8.  Insert your own random thought.




An oldie but a goodie.

When was the last time that you laughed 'til you hurt?


Until next time...

Thanksgiving Weekend

Hello, dear friends.  If you've been wondering where I've been lately, I was on my death bed.  Not literally, but it certainly felt like it.  Wednesday morning, I woke up in a web of fever, chills, and every bone in my body ached.  I hoped it was a 24-hour virus, but I was not so lucky.  I called the Doctor on day 3 and she said that even though I had the flu shot, it could be another strain or it could be  some other virus.  In any case, her prescription was to take Advil - but not too much because it could turn toxic.  Yikes.  I wanted to ask her if she had any good news for me.

I watched every Christmas movie on the Hallmark channel and two seasons of my #1's favorite show, Fixer Upper.  Gotta love Chip and Joanna.

The worst part was missing out on the Concord Home Tour with my buddy, Mary.  Oh well, there's always next year. 

This post covers our delightful Thanksgiving weekend with our girls.  

 

Before the big arrival, the pups headed to the groomers for a sweet smelling bath.  Can you tell how thrilled they are to be on their way? 

Apres bath kisses.

Our #2 arrived home first.  She spent plenty of time catching up with Chowdah and Chili.

Our #1 arrived with everyone else in the world on the day before Turkey Day.  Can you tell that Chili has a fondness for belly rubs? 

Happy pups to have their sistas home.

I won the battle of the Christmas cards this year.  For the past couple of years, the girls refused to do a picture.  But this year I utilized a healthy dose of mom guilt.  Every time one of my girls would ask me what I wanted for Christmas, I would tell them in a sad voice that I wanted one last Christmas card with featuring them and Chowdah and Chili, of course.   They finally relented.

Here are a couple of out-takes.  I have been threatening and bribing these two for a natural smile for the card for over twenty years.  Now I just have to work on Chowdah and Chili. 

We spent Black Friday on Newbury Street.  Our #2 stayed home to work on two ten-page papers.  If I didn't know better, I would think she was adopted.  We lunched at one of our favorite restaurants, Paparazzi.

When we got there, I went to the ladies room and came out to find the Mister flirting with the hostess. I can't take him anywhere.

We stopped during our shopping expedition to satisfy the Mister's sweet tooth.

I thought Black Friday would be crazy on Black Friday but it wasn't at all.

Our #1 offered to help us decorate the outside of the house.  So we grabbed her, jumped in the car and sped away before she could change her mind. 

The fruit of our hard labor.

We took in two movies; my favorite and least favorite of the year. 

You know how much I love Diane Keaton.  I was very excited for Love the Coopers and had high hopes for this flick.  I was hoping for another movie like Family Stone.

To put it politely, it was a waste of great talent.  It had a mish-mash of plots and subplots that were ridiculous.  I hope Diane has someone with taste pick her next film.

I positively adored everything about Brooklyn.  The love story was beautiful, without being over done.  I highly recommend this movie if you are looking for enchanting escapism.

Until next time...

A Humble Hodgepodge

Happy Hump Day, friends.  Have you finished your shopping yet?  I've been doing more decorating than shopping.  I'm sure my girls won't be happy to hear that.

If it's Wednesday, it's time for Hodgepodge.

1.  Did you watch The Charlie Brown Christmas special Monday night?  Who's your favorite Peanuts character and why?

I would have to say Lucy for obvious reasons.  
It's a first child thing.

"Most psychiatrists agree that sitting in a pumpkin patch is excellent therapy for a troubled mind." - Linus

Would you agree?

I don't think a pumpkin patch would do it for me.  However, visiting a nursery during the first days of Spring would have a profound effect one me.

2. Describe a sound from your childhood.  What does this sound bring to mind?

The first thing I thought of was the chiming of my Mother's charm bracelet.  Every Saturday night, she would get all dressed up in a pretty dress and high heels, and she and my father would go out to dinner or a party.  I couldn't wait to grow up and be just like her. 

3.  You've won a trip to a winter wonderland... would that excite you?  Which one of the following would you most want to experience (or which one would you dislike the least) - Aurora Borealis in Norway, stay in Sweden's Ice Hotel, go dog sledding in Lapland Finland, take a winter wildlife safari in Yellowstone or celebrate Winter Carnival in Quebec?

This is me.

in my dreams

I am not a cold weather person.  I think that I am suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome as a result of last year's snow totals. 

I'll take St. Bart's any day over all of those places.  The idea of Sweden's Ice Hotel gives me a brain freeze just thinking about it.

4.  Who or what keeps you humble?

My two girls do a pretty good job keeping their ol' Mama humble.

5.  What part of preparing for Christmas do you like the most? Explain.

Usually, I do all of the holiday decorating. Refer to 1st answer to Question #1.  But over the weekend, the Mister and my #1 offered to help me to deck the walls of the outside of the house, and it was a lot of fun.  At least, I thought so.  

6.  Gingerbread - yay or nay?  Is making a gingerbread house part of your family holiday tradition?

I love the taste of gingerbread.  It's been awhile since I decorated a gingerbread house with the girls.  The ones that we did do usually came out looking similar to this one.

7.  What's one thing you want to start, do, or complete before the calendar rolls into a new year?

Getting my Christmas cards written and in the mail is number one on my list of things to get done by the first of the year.  We haven't sent out cards for a few years because my girls said that they were too old to be in the picture.  I made a big stink, stomped my foot like Lucy, and finally got my way.  Now it's my turn to take it to the finish line.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.  

Blush Home

Blush Home

I am very excited to be going to my first Holiday Home Tour of the season this weekend.  I am going with one of my friends, Mary, who is a Sudbury Sweetheart.   Concord is one of my favorite towns in New England.  I wrote a post about it here.   These photos were on line from last year's tour.  I'm counting the minutes.


Until next time...

Dog Pacer