i've been thinking about my new year's goals (see prev post titled "the dreaded new year's resolutions" ~ or something to that affect!) and tied for number 1 on my list is exercising and writing, both every day!
just found that my garden blog @ dig in dirt garden blogs has been deleated in the revamping of the site! ugh ~ that soooo hurts! (10 months of writing!!!) at least i found out tonight instead of tomorrow! (wouldn't bode well for the new year i don't think!) i don't know what's happened to other fellow garden bloggers i became friends with through the site & that saddens me a bit. i've emailed someone who used to be the contact for the site & i hope that answers my questions soon!
anyway, be safe, be well and have a happy, healthy & prosperous new year!!!
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Saturday, December 30, 2006
New Year's Resolutions
i've been thinking about the dreaded "new year's resolutions" today.
on 12/22/06, i not only wrote about having the totally disheartening thought that none of my dreams will ever come true because i am too old and i've wasted too much time, but, i wrote about how earlier in the day, i decided i'm not going to make "resolutions" for 2007, i'm going to make goals, from the simple to the not so simple and i'm going to achieve those goals, one by one. (a very contradictory day in my life apparently!!!)
i think the terms "new year's resolutions" has such a stigma of being associated with things you meant well enought to do but never did that they are doomed from the start! actually, i think there have been more years i never even made any resolutions than years i did!
nonetheless, i think getting rid of the "new year's resolutions" language could actually be a start in the right & positive direction! i have some things in mind, but, i haven't actually written anything down yet.
i'm going to work on this over the last hours of 2006. i really don't want to be here next year thinking of the time i've wasted and things i wished i'd done. i've spent too many years like this already!
on 12/22/06, i not only wrote about having the totally disheartening thought that none of my dreams will ever come true because i am too old and i've wasted too much time, but, i wrote about how earlier in the day, i decided i'm not going to make "resolutions" for 2007, i'm going to make goals, from the simple to the not so simple and i'm going to achieve those goals, one by one. (a very contradictory day in my life apparently!!!)
i think the terms "new year's resolutions" has such a stigma of being associated with things you meant well enought to do but never did that they are doomed from the start! actually, i think there have been more years i never even made any resolutions than years i did!
nonetheless, i think getting rid of the "new year's resolutions" language could actually be a start in the right & positive direction! i have some things in mind, but, i haven't actually written anything down yet.
i'm going to work on this over the last hours of 2006. i really don't want to be here next year thinking of the time i've wasted and things i wished i'd done. i've spent too many years like this already!
New Yr's Traditions
i've been searching "new yr's traditions" for a bit this afternoon and the one that keeps popping up is the eating of black eyed pea's on new year's day to bring good fortune in the new year.
click on the following link for the best article and recipes i came upon during my search: http://www.austin360.com/food_drink/content/food_drink/dining_at_home/stories/2006/12/31blackeyedpeas.html
from what i've read, it's mainly a southern tradition which seems to come from 2 similiar civil war era legends. 1 of the North's soldiers raiding much of the South's food supplies on new year's eve but left black eyed peas, salted pork and rice. therefore, that was all there was left to eat on new year's day and sustain them through the winter and they were thankful not to starve.
the second doesn't indicate the North's soldier's raiding the South's food supplies, but, of them burning all the crops across the South except for the black eyed peas, perhaps because they thought them to be seeds. regardless of the reason, they were able to eat the black eyed peas on new year's day, etc., etc., etc..
in passing, i also saw something about the crops of black eyed peas adding much needed nutrients to southern soil and bountiful crops harvested each year where the black eyed peas had been planted the previous year, which also goes along with the good fortune aspect.
another thing i saw in passing was in addition to eating the above, other beans, like lentils, are eaten on new year's day to bring prosperity because they look like small coins, as well as greens, like collards, because they resemble paper money.
superstitious or not, it couldn't hurt!
click on the following link for the best article and recipes i came upon during my search: http://www.austin360.com/food_drink/content/food_drink/dining_at_home/stories/2006/12/31blackeyedpeas.html
from what i've read, it's mainly a southern tradition which seems to come from 2 similiar civil war era legends. 1 of the North's soldiers raiding much of the South's food supplies on new year's eve but left black eyed peas, salted pork and rice. therefore, that was all there was left to eat on new year's day and sustain them through the winter and they were thankful not to starve.
the second doesn't indicate the North's soldier's raiding the South's food supplies, but, of them burning all the crops across the South except for the black eyed peas, perhaps because they thought them to be seeds. regardless of the reason, they were able to eat the black eyed peas on new year's day, etc., etc., etc..
in passing, i also saw something about the crops of black eyed peas adding much needed nutrients to southern soil and bountiful crops harvested each year where the black eyed peas had been planted the previous year, which also goes along with the good fortune aspect.
another thing i saw in passing was in addition to eating the above, other beans, like lentils, are eaten on new year's day to bring prosperity because they look like small coins, as well as greens, like collards, because they resemble paper money.
superstitious or not, it couldn't hurt!
bin laden organized the carnage that happened on september 11th, 2001. nearly 3,000 people died on US soil as a result. bin laden has been "sought after" since then but has not even been close to being captured or punished. he still lives.
saddam hussein was hanged before sunrise this morning in iraq. this seems somewhat wrong to me even given the fact of what a horrible human being he was. it's become quite aparent that our government mislead us to justify their latest invasion of iraq. how many more of our troops have been injured and died since they took on iraq in addition to afghanistan?
yet, bin laden still lives. and the focus seems to be on iraq.
saddam hussein was hanged before sunrise this morning in iraq. this seems somewhat wrong to me even given the fact of what a horrible human being he was. it's become quite aparent that our government mislead us to justify their latest invasion of iraq. how many more of our troops have been injured and died since they took on iraq in addition to afghanistan?
yet, bin laden still lives. and the focus seems to be on iraq.
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Happy Day After Christmas!!! part 2
after presents, Christmas morning.
after presents, Christmas morning.
oops! forgot to move this one around before uploading! this is the christmas tree in our kitchen, infront of the patio doors, taken christmas day eve.
this is a silver bell ornament on the tree which is engraved with her name and the year 1999.
another view of the Christmas tree, taken Christmas Eve, late afternoon.
Happy Day After Christmas!!!
view from our porch, taken Christmas Day eve.
view of our patio, taken early December.
view of the Christmas Tree from our couch, taken Christmas Day.
that's precious under the tree ~ caught in mid lick & yawn! taken Christmas Day eve. (her favorite place to nap!)
that's 5-oh on Christmas Eve. (get it, 5-oh, he's black & white like the old cop cars... never mind!)
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Happy Christmas Eve!
according to norad.org (santa tracker!) santa's passed pa, nj & ny and he's heading out of boston as i type this!
it's 10:58pm. my hubby's asleep. i'm not ready to sleep yet. i love christmas eve! the peacefulness and quite beauty of it.
we stopped at my aunt's house this am to drop off a gift for her. then we went to the cemetary to put pointsettia's on my nana's & uncle bill's graves. we've had xmas dinner already with my mom & sister-in-law. we spent some time this evening with another sister-in-law, her husband & son and another nephew dropped by. then we stopped at my hubby's best friend's aunt's house.
now we're home, alone and that's how it will be through tomorrow! our 3rd xmas together ~ our 1st alone!!!
in a way, there's always a let down when things are over & that's how i felt when we got home. i was a little sad. i was so disappointed when i thought 24 hours of "a christmas story" wasn't on cable this year! (i thought it was tnt ~ it was tbs!) i've been looking forward to it!
the nutcracker was on pbs when we got home ~ the one with mikael barishnikof (not sure on the spelling!). oh how i've loved to watch that on xmas eve since i was a little girl!!! that and a christmas carol (w/alister sim) and xmas eve on sesame street! xmas eve was always one of my favorite nights of the year because of them!
i'm a bit sad because i'm not tucking in my little girl and tip toeing around to get all her presents under the tree and have some of the milk & cookies left for santa. i said to my hubby earlier that i hoped if there is a heaven that there is christmas eve & day for babies and children in heaven.
our old apartment was set up like a studio apt, so the past 2 xmas's, i was able to leave the tree lights on & see it from our bed. so, as much as i'd like to lie down next to my hubby, i'm going to go out into the living room for awhile so i can see the christmas tree and enjoy what's left of the quiet beauty of this night.
it's 10:58pm. my hubby's asleep. i'm not ready to sleep yet. i love christmas eve! the peacefulness and quite beauty of it.
we stopped at my aunt's house this am to drop off a gift for her. then we went to the cemetary to put pointsettia's on my nana's & uncle bill's graves. we've had xmas dinner already with my mom & sister-in-law. we spent some time this evening with another sister-in-law, her husband & son and another nephew dropped by. then we stopped at my hubby's best friend's aunt's house.
now we're home, alone and that's how it will be through tomorrow! our 3rd xmas together ~ our 1st alone!!!
in a way, there's always a let down when things are over & that's how i felt when we got home. i was a little sad. i was so disappointed when i thought 24 hours of "a christmas story" wasn't on cable this year! (i thought it was tnt ~ it was tbs!) i've been looking forward to it!
the nutcracker was on pbs when we got home ~ the one with mikael barishnikof (not sure on the spelling!). oh how i've loved to watch that on xmas eve since i was a little girl!!! that and a christmas carol (w/alister sim) and xmas eve on sesame street! xmas eve was always one of my favorite nights of the year because of them!
i'm a bit sad because i'm not tucking in my little girl and tip toeing around to get all her presents under the tree and have some of the milk & cookies left for santa. i said to my hubby earlier that i hoped if there is a heaven that there is christmas eve & day for babies and children in heaven.
our old apartment was set up like a studio apt, so the past 2 xmas's, i was able to leave the tree lights on & see it from our bed. so, as much as i'd like to lie down next to my hubby, i'm going to go out into the living room for awhile so i can see the christmas tree and enjoy what's left of the quiet beauty of this night.
Thursday, December 21, 2006
i just got the best present ever!
so my aunt and cousin came over this afternoon to visit a bit and drop off some toys for toys for tots (see previous posts).
a few months ago i mentioned to my aunt that i'd been having trouble finding good fiction books to read. she reads the 'elm creek quilt' series (see my "links" section!) and gave me 4 of them to start with. about a week later, she gave me another 9! out of all those i've returned 5. today, my aunt brought me another bag of (5!) books!
just before i shifting things on the book shelf in the living room where i keep her book, i looked through them. on the inside covers, she usually pencils in her intials (and my cousins if they're not mysteries!) after she's completed a book. her initials are the same as mine, jw. a few minutes ago, on the inside covers of the 5 books she brought today, my first initial is now penciled in along with hers (and my cousins)!!!
i have no idea why, but, it made me so happy! i love my aunt so much. always have. we've always had a special bond, of which my mother and cousin have both been jealous about at one time or another (my mother's never stopped!). we've been back in contact since just before vic & i got married back in 5/05.
when we were first out of contact before my nana passed away (due to things among my nana's children - my mom, aunt and uncles), i was very, very hurt. as time passed, i got to the point i didn't honestly care anymore. i didn't care much after first being back in contact - it was very awkward: talk about the past or just pick up from the present and keep going?
my aunt loves my husband and now that we talk on the phone again & visit/spend time together and still have all that reading in common, i care so much! she just turned 70 this oct and i can't believe she's "old" - numerically speaking at least! i'm afraid of not having enough time with her now that she's older & i don't know how i'll get through losing her.
anway, back to my being happy over just her initialing her books with my initials! it really brings home the point that this time of year isn't about the material things! and it's the simple things that touch us so much!
and now i've really kicked that humbug!
a few months ago i mentioned to my aunt that i'd been having trouble finding good fiction books to read. she reads the 'elm creek quilt' series (see my "links" section!) and gave me 4 of them to start with. about a week later, she gave me another 9! out of all those i've returned 5. today, my aunt brought me another bag of (5!) books!
just before i shifting things on the book shelf in the living room where i keep her book, i looked through them. on the inside covers, she usually pencils in her intials (and my cousins if they're not mysteries!) after she's completed a book. her initials are the same as mine, jw. a few minutes ago, on the inside covers of the 5 books she brought today, my first initial is now penciled in along with hers (and my cousins)!!!
i have no idea why, but, it made me so happy! i love my aunt so much. always have. we've always had a special bond, of which my mother and cousin have both been jealous about at one time or another (my mother's never stopped!). we've been back in contact since just before vic & i got married back in 5/05.
when we were first out of contact before my nana passed away (due to things among my nana's children - my mom, aunt and uncles), i was very, very hurt. as time passed, i got to the point i didn't honestly care anymore. i didn't care much after first being back in contact - it was very awkward: talk about the past or just pick up from the present and keep going?
my aunt loves my husband and now that we talk on the phone again & visit/spend time together and still have all that reading in common, i care so much! she just turned 70 this oct and i can't believe she's "old" - numerically speaking at least! i'm afraid of not having enough time with her now that she's older & i don't know how i'll get through losing her.
anway, back to my being happy over just her initialing her books with my initials! it really brings home the point that this time of year isn't about the material things! and it's the simple things that touch us so much!
and now i've really kicked that humbug!
well, i seem to have kicked some of that humbug last night. all of the sudden it hit me, that "christmas spirit" when i decided to hang up the christmas cards! i kept at it by hanging up some of my old ornaments in the living room.
not that my husband cares in the least, but, i've decided to only hang up ornaments that we've gotten since being together and all of my old ones go on the garlands on the mantle or the et center or the 2 shelves in the living room. in the past others complained that all the ornaments were mine and since i feel as though my life really started once we met, the christmas tree is now reserved for just us! and since i just love a tree with christmas lights and don't feel the need for ornaments, it doesn't bother me that the ornaments on it are few & fare between!
my aunt & cousin are on their way so i must be going!
not that my husband cares in the least, but, i've decided to only hang up ornaments that we've gotten since being together and all of my old ones go on the garlands on the mantle or the et center or the 2 shelves in the living room. in the past others complained that all the ornaments were mine and since i feel as though my life really started once we met, the christmas tree is now reserved for just us! and since i just love a tree with christmas lights and don't feel the need for ornaments, it doesn't bother me that the ornaments on it are few & fare between!
my aunt & cousin are on their way so i must be going!
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
i've caught the dreaded Hum Bug!
12/19 & i just don't give a hoot. i mailed all the cards this morning. we're broke and of course my husband's totally last minute when it comes to xmas shopping for me. (couldn't have done it when we had a wee bit extra in the bank, right?!) i'm totally annoyed i can't afford to get him what i really wanted to. this warm freakin' florida weather we're having's just got to go! (as if i didn't already know i hate fl & couldn't live there, this just proves it!) more of the decorations are going back down stairs because i'm in no mood to figure out where to put them. the cats are driving me nuts. i don't feel like doing a damn thing. the upgrade for internet explorer (from 6.0 to 7.0) SUCKS! i'm probably getting my period with how moody i am. (merry xmas!) my sister-in-law's supposed to be here every other wkend and this coming wkend will make 3 wks in a row. doesn't sound like much to you? she's been here nearly every wkend since august (w/nearly 3 fulls wks here on top of that) and i never get to spend any time alone with my husband on his few days off because she's here and i'm getting very tired of my every other wkend rule being ignored. i had a "discussion" last wkend with him since i hadn't planned on her being here this coming wkend. i'm getting pissed. my mother says i'm very short with her lately ~ there's the pot calling the kettle black! (and that's all i'm going to say about that!)
Saturday, December 16, 2006
the car insurance was supposed to be due 1/10/07. but, no, it was due 12/14. $350.00 out of my husband's check - the one right before xmas.
he's not materialistic in the least. when he says he doesn't want anything for xmas besides me, he means it. he acutally gets a tad miffed that i do want to buy him gifts for xmas. but i do want to and now i can't afford to. and that upsets me so much.
all the time and money i wasted in the past on people who weren't worth it and now that i've got the best thing that's ever happened to me, i can't do the same for him and it hurts me. sure, i can go to my mom, but, she's 66! i'm the one who's supposed to be doing things for her now!
i don't know what's happeneing to my christmas spirit this year. i've been poor-er than this and i've been worse off than this and nothing ever took away my joy at this time of year. this year it doesn't feel right. and it's nearly over! i spend from new years through september, waiting for halloween, thanksgiving and christmas to come again and this year i feel like it's just passing me by. that scares me. i don't want to end up like my mom or my husband who don't like or care about christmas!
he's not materialistic in the least. when he says he doesn't want anything for xmas besides me, he means it. he acutally gets a tad miffed that i do want to buy him gifts for xmas. but i do want to and now i can't afford to. and that upsets me so much.
all the time and money i wasted in the past on people who weren't worth it and now that i've got the best thing that's ever happened to me, i can't do the same for him and it hurts me. sure, i can go to my mom, but, she's 66! i'm the one who's supposed to be doing things for her now!
i don't know what's happeneing to my christmas spirit this year. i've been poor-er than this and i've been worse off than this and nothing ever took away my joy at this time of year. this year it doesn't feel right. and it's nearly over! i spend from new years through september, waiting for halloween, thanksgiving and christmas to come again and this year i feel like it's just passing me by. that scares me. i don't want to end up like my mom or my husband who don't like or care about christmas!
Thursday, December 14, 2006
it's 12/14. 10 days until xmas eve. 11 days until xmas. and it was 57 degrees here today. this afternoon, i was able to sit out on my patio with only a tank top & jeans on and i wasn't the least bit chilly.
this sucks! i feel like i'm missing out on the whole holiday season because it's so warm & i just can't get into or stay in the mood because of it! we've had 1 day this month below freezing. day before that, it was in the 70's. day after, the 50's!!!
where's my snow?!
this sucks! i feel like i'm missing out on the whole holiday season because it's so warm & i just can't get into or stay in the mood because of it! we've had 1 day this month below freezing. day before that, it was in the 70's. day after, the 50's!!!
where's my snow?!
Monday, December 11, 2006
the wizard of oz is on tnt right now. they show it way more frequently these days than when i was a child! it used to be once a year and on regular tv!!!
oh, how i loved this movie! (still do!) it was always on a friday night. my mom would unplug the phone and lay out my favorite quilt and pillows on the living room floor. she said i'd barely stay awake through the entire movie, reciting word for word, line for line and within seconds of the ending, i'd be sound alseep, sucking my thumb. (mom's got the pictures to prove it too!)
oh, how i loved this movie! (still do!) it was always on a friday night. my mom would unplug the phone and lay out my favorite quilt and pillows on the living room floor. she said i'd barely stay awake through the entire movie, reciting word for word, line for line and within seconds of the ending, i'd be sound alseep, sucking my thumb. (mom's got the pictures to prove it too!)
Thursday, December 07, 2006
i can't believe it's nearly 3pm. since 8am, i've been working to get through all the xmas boxes & get out what i want out & repack what i don't. 5 boxes didn't look like much, but, they were crammed w/more than i even remember having!
i've got so much xmas stuff, i can't possibly put it all out. it's funny, because the place we lived in before this was way, way smaller (studio size) and i think i had most of it out & i can't figure out where or how!
i think i'm done decorating the living room ~ we'll get a tree late next week, maybe. it's onot the bedroom next (and last!).
i've put a tree in the kitchen, as you can see above. i dragged it out of storage last year because i knew we were moving on 12/15, knew we were waiting until we moved to get a real tree but, didn't want to feel as though i'd missed out on the whole season (2nd time i've moved in december for the 15th! NOT recommended!!!) and it's turned into a tree i decorate for my daughter. i cannot tell you why i feel that way about it, i just do.
it's got red & white "candy cane" lights on it with mainly red, white, clear & silver ornaments on it. the tree itself is a bit ratty looking, but, it's really pretty all dec'd! (it would stay pretty if the cats didn't like to chew on it, climb up the middle of it and play with the ornaments so much!)
i've got to get going & get ready. as soon as hubby's home, we're going to church to light a candle & then pick up my mom's xmas present.
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
toys for tots
the marines are holding toys for tots drive this coming weekend with the help of american legions, vfw's, churches and other local organizations.
please, bring a new, unopened, unwrapped toy to one of these drives for a boy or girl. you spend as much or as little as you like!
DO NOT BRING RECYCLED GIFTS, OPENED TOYS or USED/OLD TOYS! if it's a piece of junk your kids are done playing with or won't play with, throw it away ~ save yourself the embarrassment and do not disrespect the children who will receive these gifts - if you need/needed help at this time of year, you wouldn't want that for your own child.
my husband is a retired marine & a member of the american legion and we're helping with the toys for tots drive this coming saturday at a local church.
please, bring a new, unopened, unwrapped toy to one of these drives for a boy or girl. you spend as much or as little as you like!
DO NOT BRING RECYCLED GIFTS, OPENED TOYS or USED/OLD TOYS! if it's a piece of junk your kids are done playing with or won't play with, throw it away ~ save yourself the embarrassment and do not disrespect the children who will receive these gifts - if you need/needed help at this time of year, you wouldn't want that for your own child.
my husband is a retired marine & a member of the american legion and we're helping with the toys for tots drive this coming saturday at a local church.
santa came to town last night thanks to the local first aid squad. it was great ~ they pulled an ambulance all the way into the center of the complex's parking lot, which was pulling a sleigh w/2 lighted, animated reindeer & santa. johnny mathis's "sleigh ride" was playing. all the kids came out w/their parents ~ they sat up in the sleigh w/santa & had their pictures taken!
i've never lived anyplace that did more than drive santa around on a fire truck & sometimes he threw candy to anyone standing close enough & waved!
i ran back inside & got my camera & took some pics.
as i walked back to our porch, i started to cry. my daughter would've been 7 this coming thursday. the perfect age to enjoy all of this! she would've loved seeing santa like that!
the other day in walgreens, i started looking at the toys. i wanted to get something for a little girl to bring with us to the toys for tots drive this coming saturday & all the sudden i became overwhelmed with sadness in my chest. so painful it took my breath away. i asked her what she'd like for christmas out of those toys. i picked a tea set, a magnetic drawing board (sort of like an etcha-sketch) and a cinderella purse set w/sun glasses and plastic lip stick & eye shadow.
today i'm kindof hovering in sadness. having my 'monthly visitor' isn't helping me either. thursday i'm going to light a candle for her in church. i do that every year on the day i lost her and on the day her birthday would've been. as much as i adore and love my husband, sometimes i feel as though i'm counting the days until i can be with her. i only hope & pray god will let me in to see her.
i've never lived anyplace that did more than drive santa around on a fire truck & sometimes he threw candy to anyone standing close enough & waved!
i ran back inside & got my camera & took some pics.
as i walked back to our porch, i started to cry. my daughter would've been 7 this coming thursday. the perfect age to enjoy all of this! she would've loved seeing santa like that!
the other day in walgreens, i started looking at the toys. i wanted to get something for a little girl to bring with us to the toys for tots drive this coming saturday & all the sudden i became overwhelmed with sadness in my chest. so painful it took my breath away. i asked her what she'd like for christmas out of those toys. i picked a tea set, a magnetic drawing board (sort of like an etcha-sketch) and a cinderella purse set w/sun glasses and plastic lip stick & eye shadow.
today i'm kindof hovering in sadness. having my 'monthly visitor' isn't helping me either. thursday i'm going to light a candle for her in church. i do that every year on the day i lost her and on the day her birthday would've been. as much as i adore and love my husband, sometimes i feel as though i'm counting the days until i can be with her. i only hope & pray god will let me in to see her.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
