The sands of time Saturday, December 31, 2011

Goodbye to a somewhat trying year….some health issues ‘last’ January were quite unexpected. I learned that I can actually hold down a job too. Wow-it’s been a while, that’s why I say that. If the manager doesn’t keep me at the store, I know I can hold down a retail job. It took me a few weeks to learn it, but I did it!

I had my mom and brother over. We had  Veloute of Asparagus soup, delicious beef brisket with gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans with mustard sauce and Rum Raisin bars and Rum icing brownies. The only thing that wasn’t good was my back when I went to check the brownies at dinnertime. It’s better after I sat here and used an ice pack. Don, my brother enjoyed the karaoke machine and had Brian laughing so hard! Then Brian took his dad some dinner and we played the new game ‘Logo’ about commercials and advertising. It’s not that easy. Mom got tired and they left at 7ish (they had gotten here at 3 and then went to Delaware to hit a Kmart as they are collecting the lighted houses that are on sale now).

I’m happy to sit here and watch ‘New Year’s Rockin’ Eve’-the 40th anniversary!

Happy 2012!!!

New gadget on the way Friday, December 30, 2011

My Uncle Don left me a little something in his will, I think to get a used car with it. So I got the PT Cruiser in July and it’s financed, but isn’t that much a month. I wanted some kind of tablet for us all to use, so today I looked on the Apple refurbished page and ordered an iPad2 32 gb for an excellent price. Sean says that his store sells the 16gb for the same price that I paid! We’ve bought other refurbished things and Apple has a good reputation and won’t send me anything scratched, etc. (at least I hope not). Here’s a sneak peek:

It will be great on trips instead of lugging around a laptop. The 32 gb is great for movies, etc. I’ll let you know about it.

I swear every time I’m excited about something, something else happens. My brother’s 11 yr old dalmation Baxter is having  G.I. issues, and he is taking him to the vet. I hope he’s okay-such a nice dog and always glad to see you. Mom and Don have to get up several times a night for the poor fella.

Working, tidying and watching movies Thursday, December 29, 2011

Yes, that’s my life this week. Though I didn’t go in Wednesday, I still have to get up early to call to see if they need me to fill in for someone sick. I worked Monday 10-3 and Tuesday 5-9. Today it’s 5-8. I worked an extra hour on Tuesday. I watched three movies-an ‘Indie’ film called ‘The Tree of Life’-more visual than a ‘regular’ movie; ‘The Help’, which was really good and featured Jessica Chastain who was also the mom in the first movie-totally different characters-she’s awesome. Then Wednesday Sean brought home ‘Water for Elephants’ another good one based in 1931.

He uses ‘Redbox’ now-a $1 a night and they are springing up all over the place.

Wednesday I was cleaning in the family room. I got halfway finished and pooped out. I am going to tackle the kitchen a little tomorrow. I may be having company for dinner on the 1st if I have off.

Sean gave us a Kodak printer for Christmas. It’s wireless-nice feature. But I am loving that it’s a copy machine too. I can do a bunch of stuff for my collages which I need to get into again. I have a pile of really old books and I can utilize the artwork and then if I really don’t like anything else about the book, toss it-well maybe-lol.

Off to read a few pages of my next read-book #13 for the year-a record for me!

Some holiday shots Monday, December 26, 2011

For some reason, we left the camera on a high ISO rating, thus the photos are not as sharp as they could have been.

Mom’s Christmas fairy display

Part of her massive lighted house display (my brother did a ton of decorating)

Me and her dog Kelsey

The Comcast offered a roaring fire for atmosphere

We had turkey, ham, stuffing, cranberry sauce with walnuts and mandarin oranges and what I made puffy cauliflower casserole and ultimate green beans. The recipe called for a pinch of hot pepper flakes and must have really ‘activated’ when my brother reheated them. They were way too spicy.

I’m wearing a vest I’ve had for a while with a new top. Both Brian and Sean are wearing new shirts. You can tell Brian’s been sick from his dark circles. He’s getting there. These were taken before the tablet cracked. After that, we were kind of sad for the rest of the evening.

Update-Sean was able to return the tablet and get a refund. We’re saving up for a better brand that doesn’t break as easily.

This welcomed Christmas Day Monday, December 26, 2011

I never had a white Amaryllis and I’m loving it.

We had a nice Christmas eve and Christmas. We did get together with almost everyone except my oldest brother who is a tech down at KYW tv in Philly. We said hi through my sister-in-law’s iPad. Speaking of tablets, I got one from Sean and it got a crack in the glass and hopefully he can return it. The blasted thing is made of glass and it slipped out of the case right on the floor and got the crack. I didn’t even have it 11 hours. I was showing it to my mom and was using the Kindle case (should have left it home) and forgot to zipper it  when I got home and out if slid. I think it has to had a defect to break so easily! My brother says he has dropped his phone (me too) many times without a problem.

Anyway Sean got us a blu-ray player and the picture is really nice. He also got us a Kodak wireless printer (gotta love that he works at a Wally World). We got a family gift of a Keurig coffee maker which was fun to use this morning.

I did take a few photos last night and today, but only had the ones from last night on the computer.

My niece Tori opening her gifts from us-a book that featured making jewelry from famous paintings and a friendship bracelet kit.

Almost all of the cousins (missing Kenny-but he did join) having fun.

Sean and his Mom mom.

When you need a little help from stress Saturday, December 24, 2011

I finally figured out how to print out the labels to fit the Altoids tin…

Snowball wreath Thursday, December 22, 2011

So I got this idea from Pinterest, but had to make it my own. Plus, when I purchased the Styrofoam balls, I could have stood another few bags. I got the bags of goods at the handy ol’ Dollar Store. But first the issue was the wreath base. I could not find a round Styrofoam base. Where do all crafters search for stuff-the basement! I was looking around and found one that Sean used as a costume prop when he was a Titanic sailor back about 13 years ago! (I know what you are thinking-pack rat). So anyway, brought that base up, took off the red string and the lettering S.S. Titanic.
I did have to saw off the top to make it easier to pin the snowballs in. The one lady on Pinterest rolled her snowballs in Epsom salts to give them a snowy look, but I was happy with the way mine were. Two near the bottom are from a pick from another wreath. To fill in space, I wound some garland around the snowballs and added the snowflakes. I think it was under $10 to make.

Here’s a few other new things. I got the Cloche’ at Longwood Gardens yesterday  for half price. The little ‘boxes’ inside are Monet. They are a little reindeer and gingerbread house.

The pods in the faux berries are Moonflower seeds. In my china cabinet are plaster castings of Sean’s hands we made a number of years ago.

And I am growing an Amaryllis and some Narcissus. I just planted the later and all I had was a pie tin and sea glass-I’ll probably have to find something deeper, but they have no roots on them and were sprouted like this when I bought them. The pinkish salmon Poinsettia is from Terrain.

Longwood Gingerbread Christmas 2011 Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Lighted trees on the way to the Conservatory

Longwood Christmas gingerbread tree, originally uploaded by DianthusMoon.

Sean and I went over to the gardens today as we figured it wouldn’t be that crowded mid-week and also that it was raining. We were right, though surprised to see how many people there were anyway. The theme was all about gingerbread. I still have more to upload-so enjoy as I do so. Of course no work today, even though I called this morning. I had a bad night with my knees and ankles hurting (I worn new shoes with a small heel).

Gingerbread house of DuPont Home

 

Main Conservatory

 

Unique natural decor Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Sean had off on Tuesday, so we decided to go out to lunch as I had a gift card for a Chinese restaurant. I try to eat salmon when I see it on the menu, so that’s what I got on brown rice. Sean had chicken and almonds. We both had egg drop soup. We went over to Pier One and I bought a few sweet things. I didn’t even take anything out of the bag as I had to go to work from 5-10. We then went across the road to Terrain and I took some photos with my camera phone of their unique display:

Gorgeous red Amaryllis 

This was a two tiered tin planter with tiny white Poinsettia around the bottom and dainty Narcissus

This is real cotton in a display. They also pulled it apart to look like a snow covered tree. You can see it in the first photo well.

Sunday and Monday I dedicated to making cookies. I made Chocolate chips, Sour Cream Drops, 7 layer cookies, Peanut butter swirls, Cinnamon chip oatmeal and Rum balls.

 I am on call again in the morning, so hoping not to have to go in, but I’m doubting that. Then they get me again on call Thursday and I work Friday morning. I mainly need to clean the house now.

Cookie love Sunday, December 18, 2011

Well… I finally got around to whipping up a few batches of cookies. I started with chocolate chips and did some 7 layer (Sean’s favorite) and some with a cookie press. That cookie press didn’t work too well. I got a Martha S. one I found for $1 at a resale. I think my dough got too warm. I squeezed out about 2 dozen and forgot the sprinkles on the first batch. I will do a few more tomorrow. I’m happy to be getting this done. Cookies are a  special part of Christmas to me.

Sean is bringing me home ingredients for Rum balls (update-he got the wrong kind of cookies-I needed Nilla wafers and he got those rectangular vanilla wafers) . And I love Chocolate Swirl Peanut Butter cookies too. I hope I have enough peanut butter! Opps.

Sean and I went to Walmart and Peebles in Parkeburg (near Lancaster) after church last night. He had given me a gift card for my birthday and I got  Monkees (they were my brother Don and my favorites as kids for a time) and Christmas karaoke cds. I bought myself a little karaoke machine and Brian hooked it up to a tv Sean used at PSU. The lyrics are right on the screen. I ordered popular music and Beatles cd to use. I do like to sing (I have a soprano voice and have sung in choruses and choirs in the past), so this is for me to blow off some steam or pretend I am a popular singer. ; )

I went in the Peebles and it has half the merchandise that our store has here! But believe me, I used that discount for some shoes and clothes at this store too.

I am placing an order at a place near Brian’s work for some meat and cheese platters, tea sandwiches or fruit. I got a voucher from LivingSocial for $40 worth of food for $20. I have to give them 48 hours . It’s near where my uncle lived and mom said their sandwiches are great. What’s nice is that they give you half orders, so I will probably order a few things.

I hope everyone is taking time to relax. I was on call today, they didn’t need me. I work two days (one morning, one evening) and am on call two more days. They are having a little party on the 24th (I don’t work that day) and I only heard about it through the lady at the cosmetics counter. I haven’t signed up to be in the ‘Secret Santa’, but I do have a gift for it. I just can’t believe not one manager mentioned the party to me. I guess I’m stuck in the back of the store and they all talk up in the front. I was talking with a young lady in the ladies’ clothes (she’s about 19-20) and probably her parents are my age. We were laughing about something just when the manager came around the corner. It was 8:40 pm and they were closing at 9. He couldn’t let it go and asked if I had something to do in my department.  I did a lot that night and I guess he was still peeved that I didn’t notice I was on call Thursday. Sean gets his schedule online-much easier. Oh well…nice to have some spending money!