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

 

 

 

 

I'm Back

Thoughts and Quotes: If you want to be happy, set a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy, and inspires your hopes.

                                                 Andrew Carnegie

I've had some bumps on my road of life, but by and large, I've been very happy. Perhaps it's because I've been setting goals? As a teen and young adult, I had a couple of mental goals. I wanted to be independent and not poor. As that worked out well, I should have wanted to be independent and rich. By the time I reached my thirties, I had started making a written list of  goals at the beginning of each year. A list of things to do, buy, see, taste, smell, experience which makes life exciting. And what a feeling of accomplishment when you check a goal off your list and say "Done!" As Covid seems to be fading into the past, I'm ready for a new and wonderful year. I checked the calendar and saw that my list might be bigger than my remaining years, so I need to hit the ground running in 2022, and keep on pushing if I want lots of checkmarks.

The new year is right around the corner. Time to start your list - I've already started.

Tasting and Thrifting: I just had a visit from David, a friend I met on a trip to China. He was here a week and we did lots of both. We had at least one meal out everyday.

Keeter Center - we checked out the gift shop before lunch; really fun items for fall.

Always a few fresh flowers on your table, yeast rolls and raisin scones,  butter and homemade apple butter.

We both chose Chicken-Fried Chicken - my favorite (mashed potatoes under the chicken).

I loved seeing the dairy cows; they're usually off in another field.

First trip to Victoria's Tea Room - David had the lunch I've shown before.

And I had Strawberry Chicken

Under the chicken is rice and quinoa.

We both had the Garden Vegetable-Beef Soup

And we chose the Lady Lavender Tea, which is Earl Grey with added lavender, vanilla, and orange peel.

Victoria's the second time. We chose Blue Eyes tea, which is black tea with apples, hibiscus, and rose hips. It's a delicate pink color, and I loved my teacup.

David had Bubble Tea - I think it was strawberry.

The soup was Chicken-Pesto - a little messy looking, but good.

David had the Strawberry Chicken and I had Parmesan Chicken. And I am so stealing this lettuce idea.

Spring Creek Tea Room - I had a Chicken Salad half-sandwich and Strawberry Soup, because we were having early dinner.

Texas Roadhouse - my usual Roadkill with a Caesar Salad. Roadkill is a ground beef patty, smothered in grilled onions and mushrooms and topped with Monterey Jack cheese. 

We visited five thrift stores.

I bought books - all $1 or less

Wall art - $6

$1 Coffee mugs

$2 Coffee mug

$2 Tea cup with insert

Teapots - $3 each; the blue one is a prettier shade than the photo shows.

Napkin Rings - $4.50; beaded and new in a sweet bag. The tag was still on them, so I checked the internet (www.alwayselegant.com), and they were originally $15, on sale for $10.

Tablecloths - $1.25 each

$5.49 for a tablecloth and five placemats.

Well, you were going to wash it anyway.

$5.49 for a runner, six placemats, and a napkin. New with tags from Waterford.

$2 for four placemats.

50 cents each

4 of these

75 cents each

$1 each

$1.25 Soft kitty blanket

$2

$3 Plastic handle

$5 Glass handle

Thank Yous: When Mim and I were canvassing, I commented on the pretty white mums, and that I hadn't seen white ones this year. A few days later, she brought me this.

And to David, who reads a lot and brought me some books he liked, along with a DVD of the Downton Abbey movie he enjoyed.

Sorry I'm running late - here's your November Bucket List. I've crossed off only one item so far, but I'm stocking up each time I go to the market and I'm forever grateful.

NOVEMBER BUCKET LIST

Start your Christmas shopping 

Make a pumpkin pie 

Get out your winter clothes 

When you wake up, thank God for a new day and all your blessings 

Put the electric blanket on the bed 

Invite friends for a fall lunch 

Buy a turkey for now or later 

Make real cranberry sauce – not the stuff in the can 

Try a new soup recipe 

Tuck up with a cozy throw, a good book, and a cup of hot chocolate 

Invite friends over for games 

Buy some fall flowers 

Go out for lunch at a restaurant you’ve never tried 

Eat apple slices dipped in caramel 

Have grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup for lunch 

Stock up on non-perishables to avoid going out in the icy cold 

Make apple crisp 

Spend an afternoon at the library 

Vote on the 2^nd

^{MAKE GRATITUDE A HABIT}

^{GO OUT TO ENJOY THE AUTUMN COLOR}

^{DRINK PLENTY OF WATER}

^{EAT YOUR GREENS}

SPREAD LOVE WHEREVER YOU GO

THANK YOU FOR SHARING MY LIFE