Merry Christmas To All

Thoughts and Quotes: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

Thank You: To my Lil Sis for sharing this photo. Have you ever seen a happier gingerbread house?

Tasting: Lunch at Victoria's yesterday. Yes, I know my photos are lousy, but I took them with my phone. And yes, it's on my goals for next year to learn how to use the stupid thing. Or I could remember to carry my camera.

 Of course, her Christmas tree matched the decor.

We all had Victoria soup.

And I had shrimp, prepared especially for me without coconut.

The others had chicken salad salad

DECEMBER BUCKET LIST - almost there

Send some Christmas cards

Listen to Christmas carols

Wear red lipstick and nail polish

Wear Christmas jewelry and accessories

Make peppermint hot chocolate

Make five kinds of Christmas cookies – give them away

Chocolate-Mint, Coconut Crispies, Cherry Shortbread, Almond, Snowballs

Decorate a tree

Buy a poinsettia

Eat eggnog ice cream

Make an eggnog pie

Hang a Christmas wreath on your door

Buy a new sweater or coat

Ordered, but won't be here until January. Only one heavy coat - the problem of "why buy coats when I don't go out if it's cold enough for a heavy coat?" is solved. The rest are light weight. The black winter wool coat I bought when I moved here in 2005 still has the tags on it.

And after lunch, I went to Ross and found some more sweater coats - I think I've become obsessed with coats and sweaters.

This one is my inspiration coat - a little snug so a reason to lose weight.

I might return this one. It looked brown under artificial light, but in natural light, it's sort of maroon. In this photo it looks sort of rust. I'll check my closet to see if I have anything which matches.

A fuzzy-wuzzy cuddly jacket for walks when it's cool - yes, we're going to walk in 2022.

I also bought a fuzzy-wuzzy pink coat, but it won't be here for awhile.

Go out one evening to view the Christmas lights. Take a thermos of hot chocolate or cider.

Not yet

Watch some Christmas movies.

Shop at a mall to see all the decorations.

Decorations were scarce at the mall. Santa's area was decorated, but covered with little billboards. Really?! At least this Santa wasn't hiding behind a mask.

Work on your goals for 2022 so you’ll be finished by New Year’s Eve.

Almost finished.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JESUS

THANK YOU FOR SHARING MY LIFE

A Little More Progress

Thoughts and Quotes: There are only two options. Make progress or make excuses.    Unknown

I'm trying, really I am. I might even make it by the end of the month.

DECEMBER BUCKET LIST 

Send some Christmas cards

Listen to Christmas carols

Wear red lipstick and nail polish

Wear Christmas jewelry and accessories

Make peppermint hot chocolate

Not yet

Make five kinds of Christmas cookies – give them away

Made Chocolate-Mint and have two kinds of dough chilling to bake tomorrow.

Decorate a tree

I didn't exactly decorate it.

The best I can do with Miss Stormy Weather Milky Chin Pretty Paws around;  the Queen of Destruction. Here's what she did to the toys in her Christmas stocking from Auntie Jill.

Buy a poinsettia

Eat eggnog ice cream

Blue Bell has a new one with marshmallow swirl.

Make an eggnog pie

I don't know what happened with this pie. I just couldn't get it baked - maybe because my ingredients were too cold.

It usually looks like this.

Hang a Christmas wreath on your door

I bought a new one. I love all the bright colors.

Buy a new sweater or coat

Not yet

Go out one evening to view the Christmas lights. Take a thermos of hot chocolate or cider.

Not yet

Watch some Christmas movies.

I watched so many, I'm now into reruns.

Shop at a mall to see all the decorations.

Soon 

Work on your goals for 2022 so you’ll be finished by New Year’s Eve.

Working on this still.

Ten down and six to go.

How are you doing? 

STAY WELL - I HAVE A COLD WHICH KICKED MY BUM

STAY HYDRATED

EAT YOUR APPLES - I FOUND A NEW KIND CALLED AUTUMN GLORY - YUMMY!

EAT YOUR GREENS - VERY IMPORTANT

AND GET SOME SUN, IF POSSIBLE

THANK YOU FOR SHARING MY LIFE

Progress?

Thoughts and Quotes: Small progress is still progress. Anonymous

Good, because small progress is what I've achieved on our December bucket list. How are you doing?

DECEMBER BUCKET LIST 

Send some Christmas cards

I finally found mine, so doing that today. 

Listen to Christmas carols

One of the best parts of visiting The Ark Encounter and Creation Museum during Christmas season are the beautiful instrumental, traditional Christmas carols during your entire visit. 

Wear red lipstick and nail polish

Red lipstick when I go out and red nail polish on my toes.

Wear Christmas jewelry and accessories

I did throughout my trip, and will continue to do so when I go out.

Make peppermint hot chocolate

Maybe tomorrow if my taste returns

Make five kinds of Christmas cookies – give them away

Iffy

Decorate a tree

Probably not unless I find one in a cat-proof cage.

Buy a poinsettia

Today, if I can find one.

Eat eggnog ice cream

Looking forward to this

Make an eggnog pie

And this

Hang a Christmas wreath on your door

Will finally do this as soon as I finish here

Buy a new sweater or coat

Not yet, but many on my list, but that's another story

Go out one evening to view the Christmas lights. Take a thermos of hot chocolate or cider.

Did that big time on the trip, but sans hot chocolate. Might have to go out again.

Watch some Christmas movies.

Boy, have I watched Christmas movies, but now I call them Christmas Coat Movies - the story behind buying a coat. I've been on the couch for four days with a lousy cold, and I decided it would be a good time to get movie off my list. I got hooked on all the decorations, pretty houses, quaint little towns, the snow, and the coats - oh, the pretty coats. I fell in love with a red one in the first movie and that started the movie marathon. Now I want a red coat, plus pink, white, camel, baby blue, brown and tan plaid, two browns (niece Terri wants one), navy, perhaps lavender. Forgot - black and white houndstooth. My 2022 goals are growing. 

Shop at a mall to see all the decorations.

Soon 

Work on your goals for 2022 so you’ll be finished by New Year’s Eve.

Making good progress on this. Am I going to be busy!

I haven't taken even one photo since my last blog post. I did, however, go to the Sunnyland Tours open house to check out next year's trips. I'm still awaiting the details on Macon Cherry Festival and French Lick, but both look promising. Now I'm ready to get back into action, so let's do it. Git 'er done!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

WORK ON YOUR LIST

PRAY FOR THE TORNADO FAMILIES

DONATE TO YOUR FAVORITE CHARITY

HUG YOUR LOVED ONES

THANK YOU FOR SHARING MY LIFE

 

 

 

 

Ark Encounter, Part 4

Up early and back on the road heading home. But wait - another Dawny. A surprise stop at Santa Claus, Indiana to visit the Christmas Store.

It's like Walmart - if they don't have it, you don't need it. Huge store.

You can visit them online HERE. And there are more photos HERE.

Back on the coach for a short drive to Mariah Hill, Indiana for a fried chicken lunch at The Chateau. Yum! You can see photos HERE. Click on "See 22 photos" and look at the first photo on the second row. Is this for real?

We arrived at our destination in St. Louis (Drury Inn) in time to have "hot hors d'oeuvres" aka dinner. They've expanded their evening happy hour even more since I was here a few years ago. And I loved the new colors in the lobby.

Then back on the coach for a short drive to the Missouri Botanical Gardens for the Christmas lights show they call "Garden Glow." The paths were well marked and stops along the way to warm up (fortunately we didn't need them).

Another upside down Christmas tree at the hot chocolate stop.

The show continues through January 8. Click HERE for more information. And HERE for photos which are much better than mine.

Our last night. We arrived back in Springfield around noon.

I hated to see this trip end, as it was one of my best trips ever. Everything was perfect. There isn't one stop I'd have eliminated. And so many wonderful things to see, all in three days (two days driving), due to the precision planning by Sunnyland.

The weather was perfect - a little rain the first morning, which ended before we left the hotel; a little nippy in the evening, but I was never cold. I wore my coat once; the Glow walk, but a sweater or jacket would have sufficed.

We didn't have to make choices about meals - everything was planned and in the cost of the trip so that we didn't have to stand in line to pay our checks, or venture out, searching for a place to eat.

My favorite things: The church, which has replaced the one in Malta as my favorite of all I've seen anywhere; the traditional Christmas carols playing throughout the ark and the creation museum, the fried chicken at The Chateau, the helpful and friendly staff at the Holiday Inn in Covington, KY, Tim's stories on the riverboat Destiny, the tour mates who were friendly and joyful, and best of all - Rory, the best coach driver in the world and Dawn, the best tour escort who makes everything run smoothly, and with continuous little bits of lagniappe (something extra) daily. Disneyland might be the happiest place on earth, but only if Dawn's not around. She makes everything magical, sparkly, giggly, and the most fun ever.

When we boarded the coach each morning, we found a little treat on the seat.

And surprises from Terri - when she bought notecards for herself, she bought some for me.

And the gift which brought tears to my eyes - beautiful handmade napkin rings from Rookwood Pottery.

THE END

My blog is strictly for fun and to keep a record of my life. I do not have paid ads, so when I recommend a company or business, it means that I feel they are worthy of praise.

A company I highly recommend is Sunnyland Travel in Springfield, Missouri. If you'd like a catalog of next year's travel, click HERE. There's a form to request the catalog, which should be ready soon.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

MAKE TRAVEL AN IMPORTANT PART OF YOUR LIFE