As 2010 Draws To A Close... (Post will be updated throughout the day)

In all honesty, for me, 2010 is ' the year that wasn't ' - months of blank pages in my planner and journals. (Makes me so sad, I've put them away).

But it's time to move on and start anew.

For the last couple of years I've focused on "Simplicity" as my overall goal for those years (my word for 2009 which I carried over to this year) and the mantra I created to go with it ("Simplicity brings Clarity brings Harmony") and I was unsure as to what my overall goal for 2011 would be; would I focus on what I had been for the last couple of years? As I've journaled on what my word of 2011 will be (since last week I've been trying to sort this out), I've come to realize that "Simplicity brings Clarity brings Harmony" has become a part of my thinking pattern and overall desire for my life so I'm moving on to "Create" as my word and overall goal for 2011 to help me focus on my writing which I deeply want to get back on track with since getting derailed since this Summer due to illness, surgeries and recovery. I will keep "Simplicity brings Clarity brings Harmony" as a main mantra in addition to one I created some time late this Summer or Fall, "Turning Upheaval into Revival" which really fits me and my life as well as a person living with disease. (So much so I've added it to my header ~ have you noticed?)

Today is our first day of not having to do any kind of snow removal. Mail delivery resumed yesterday, our first day of getting mail since Christmas Eve. The 'day after Christmas 2010 blizzard' was one hell of a storm to say the least! I'm still in shock. 3 feet of snow locally, drifts 2, 3 and 4 times as high All Over The Place. 4 days to finish digging out. It was a very scary storm and I'm glad everyone made it through okay.

We welcomed a new Grand Niece into the world yesterday afternoon; we now have 17 Grand Nieces and Nephews with #18 due in 2011.

I really do dislike New Year's. It signals the end of the holiday season and my favorite times of year. I find it kind of depressing no matter how much I'm in love with Winter. Especially this year, it all went way too fast.

I'm coming down with something, not sure what, but it seems intent on heading to my chest. We were both feeling iffy yesterday; the bad part of his being home so much when he's (seasonally) laid off is passing cooties back and forth to one another repeatedly. We're supposed to head over to our American Legion Post for the festivities but I'm not sure if it's a good idea with what ever I've got going on. (I don't want to end up seriously ill nor get someone else sick). We've already paid; Hubby says it doesn't matter to him one way or another if we go. It doesn't start until 8pm so I'll see as the evening goes on how I feel.

Speaking of New Year's Eve festivities, I've done just about all of them. I've done the Times Square thing (and it was BITTERLY COLD that year!), the house party thing (mine and other people's), the club thing, the fancy hotel party thing, the dinner party thing (mine and other people's) and I must say I've always had a better time the years I've stayed home! (Especially since being with Hubby, counting my Blessings, journaling & reading until Midnight). I had actually been hoping to get up north to home #2 to spend New Year's Eve there, but some how we (Hubby!) agreed to go to the Post, then with the blizzard and now rain coming we can't be too far from the apartment complex (home #1) in case something happens and Hubby is needed here quickly so it won't be this year. Can't say I'm not disappointed because I am, deeply, but I can go there in my heart for now until we're able to get up there.

I mentioned writing earlier in this post. I've been journaling again and so happy to be! And I've jotted down more than a few ideas for novels/stories recently and can't wait to get started on them in 2011! I've written a novel but it's not something I want to publish. I do have one copy which is in a shadow box on our livingroom wall and that's as far as it will go and I'm very pleased with seeing my name on the cover. I'm getting closer to knowing what I want my books to be and very excited to start having them come together.

(The Last) Wordless Wednesday (Of 2010)

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Snow My Goodness! (The Photo's)

Please join me over at New Jersey Through My Eyes where you can view slideshows of our Day After Christmas Blizzard aka Snowmageddon Returns. I hope to have a post here soon once I gather my thoughts on the experience which will include some photo's not in the slideshows. For the moment, all I'm still able to come up with is "WOW!" which started out as "Oh My God." some time Sunday night and stuck with me through yesterday morning.

Seeing Red

For more photo's from the beginning of the 'Day After Christmas 2010' blizzard, head over to New Jersey Through My Eyes.

From Our Home To Yours

I wish you a very Merry & Happy Christmas Day!
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'Twas The Night Before Christmas Eve

Dreaming of a white Christmas or what Santa will bring?

I love Christmas Eve eve! Always have. I'm as filled with excitement as if it were actually Christmas Eve.

Today was a great day! I spent the afternoon here at home with my bff G; our annual Christmas get-together. (I hugged her before she even got in the front door, I couldn't wait!) Much talking & laughter along with cookies, tea, knitting, books, A Christmas Carol and lunch. It did my heart & soul a lot of good!

While doing some journaling earlier, I got to thinking about my word for 2011. A few years ago through an online book group, I started picking a word to represent overall what I hoped to get out of the coming year. I'd have to look at my journal from '08 to remember that year's word (I think it was bloom or blossom) but last year it was "Simplicity" ( and "Simplicity brings Clarity brings Harmony" is the mantra I created to go with it). I carried it over to this year as well. I am unsure if I will do so for again 2011 or if I will find a new word (and mantra) for the coming year. (More journaling to come).

What is your word, your intention for 2011?

December Winter Sky (Wordless Wednesday)

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'Twas the Tuesday Before Christmas

Happy Winter Solstice and first day of Winter to you! What an incredible way to say goodbye to Autumn and hello to Winter with the Lunar Eclipse. Unfortunately because we live down in the bottom of a 'valley,' the Moon was no longer visible here during the time of the eclipse. (Yes, I was up & about checking!)

Our little kitty patient Pinky is doing Much better! Thanks to my wonderful Vet who re-prescribed Pinky's steriod in pill form (the on-call Vet gave me the liquid which made him sick to his stomach twice) and who told me to put Pinky's meds (the pill, cut into smaller pieces and his antibiotic) in a saucer & mix the meds with some sardines to trick the persnickety little smart cat into taking the meds with no problem! It works like a charm! (Thank God!)

A follow up at the Rheumologist today; last month's bloodwork shows my kidney & liver functions are perfect! (Thank God!) My vitamin d is low but between my multi-vitamin and a prescription D3 of 2,000 iu's a day, it should improve quickly. My fatigue is nearly debilitating so he's put me on an oral arthritis pain management med until he feels it's time to start the iv meds again. (He doesn't believe the low d level is the main factor, it's the last 6 months, fighting an upper respiratory infection for the last 3 weeks and being off of my iv meds for so long). At least I know my iv med helps with the fatigue if nothing else. I haven't been this bad off in at least a couple of years! I'm fine then I'm literally falling asleep after doing something. (I was so tired after we were done food shopping yesterday I fell asleep on the way home!) I haven't been able to finish my Christmas knitting because in no time I must fall asleep soon after I start!

Speaking of Christmas, I'm done! No more gifts to buy or cards to mail! Went to lunch with a friend yesterday, have a longtime bff coming over Thursday morning/afternoon and another coming over for dinner Thursday evening - I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to seeing them!

Well, honestly, I'm getting extremely sleepy so I'm going to leave you for now with a slideshow. More soon!

'Twas The Friday Before Christmas

Can you believe Christmas Eve is one week from today?! Well, I got an early present this morning when the vet called with the bloodwork results of our little patient pictured above; it was the best case scenerio - he's become severly anemic again most likely due to an infection (this has happened before but not in 10 years) so he's on a steroid & antibiotics for the next 3 weeks. He actually collapsed yesterday and scared me so bad! He's not the best patient when it comes to taking liquid meds so I may have to call the vet and ask for the pill form but for now I'm so relieved he's going to be okay and Hubbs is home to help me give Pinky his meds. (Hubbs has been 'seasonally' laid off for the next 8 weeks). Hopefully I'll get a chance to post some pics of decorations & the like this weekend, once I've finished making out the Christmas cards, and update in general - like how we saw comedian Bill Engvall live on Tuesday evening & our first big snow which may arrive this weekend! Hope you're all well!
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Wordless Wednesday

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It Isn't Christmas-Time Without...

One of these blooming in our home! Apple Blossom Amaryllis are a favorite of mine.

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A Christmas Carol/The Chimes/The Cricket on the Hearth by Charles Dickens

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A Christmas Carol is a delightful & vivid read for this time of year and I am very glad I've finally read the entire story. It starts as a moody tale which gets lighter as it moves along but never loses its' engrossing hold. A story which draws me in and lets me see & hear its setting in my minds eye is a great one for me. Dickens is an author I will continue to read throughout my days.



View all my reviews

Wordless Wednesday

Early December Happenings

I couldn't get a clear photo of our sister town's tree to save my life it was so windy Friday night at the lighting!

We missed our town's tree lighting on Saturday, it apparently ended early, but we ventured out into the windy cold to see it anyhow. These pics were Hubby's idea :-)

I swear our towns' tree gets smaller every year, regardless of these pics, lol!

Looking through the gazebo to the boats now up out of the water and into storage in the marina.

Our 'main street'.

Sunday it was time to put up our tree!

Ceasar loves Christmas trees, real or artificial. Has since he was a kitten.

All fluffed out and ready for decorations.

Yesterday this squirrel was busy eating away at this pumpkin and the squash to the right (despite the gale winds & snow) which was fine with me because it meant she was leaving the bird seed & suet alone!

Our first snow arrived yesterday but it was so windy it didn't have a chance to stick to anything! I can't wait for our first true snow. I did pick out a table top (real) Christmas tree yesterday at Whole Foods and the snow & frigid temps certainly added to the festive atmosphere! I'm bringing back my tradition of having two Christmas trees, one real & one artificial. Since our artificial one is so large, I wanted a small real tree but wasn't having any luck finding one until yesterday. (Pics to follow).

Yesterday was an unexpected good day and once back home I was feeling very happy, content and Blessed. I am very thankful for a day like yesterday, I've had so few since July 4th weekend. Today would have been my daughter's 11th birthday and if not for a day like yesterday, I may not be doing as well as I am today and again, I am very thankful.

How is your December shaping up so far?

I've updated my "Currently Reading" page. What are you reading at this time of year?

Befuddled & Bamboozled and Other Happenings

Not only is it December, but it's December 2nd. I would say, "already?!" but that doesn't even begin to describe how I feel about this fact.

See, for me, it's like last week was New Year's 2010 and I was making plans for this year, taking our annual walk in a park with Hubbs on New Year's day; yesterday it was 4th of July weekend and we were having dinner with our neighbors up north; (then we all know what happened to me that weekend); and now Thanksgiving has come and gone, it's December and my year is just about over.

WHAT?!

I enjoyed Thanksgiving but for me it was very out of place, didn't feel like it was time to be watching the Macy's Parade and A Miracle On 34th Street. I did start decorating for Christmas the day after Turkey Day but even that felt odd.

Up until yesterday, our temps have been unseasonably warm and even humid at times with a cold day or two thrown in here & there. (Thankfully it cooled off a little for Thanksgiving, I hate having to cook & bake when it's warm). Perhaps now that the weather has turned cold, it will help adjust my soul to the proper time of year.

The other day I found tiny, spikey hairs on top of my head which means my hair is starting to grow back in! It's still falling out but seems to have eased up a little. I cut my bangs a wee bit shorter and it makes a huge difference; now how thin they've become isn't so glaring to me.

We finally had our first hard frost here on the coast Monday night into Tuesday morning and it took out the begonia's, cosmo's, zinnia's and nasturtiums. (The roses were in full bloom until yesterday's nasty rain & wind storm). The front & back gardens are done for this year and for once I'm not sad as this really was the worst year I've had in the garden since I started around the beginning of this decade. I haven't yet started to think about next year or Spring. I'll get there once Christmas has come & gone; for now I'm trying to stay in the present.

I will say there's nothing like a bouquet of dried lavender & lemon balm from your own garden to help lift your Spirits!

Well, I'm off to begin making a batch of turkey pot pies from the leftovers to freeze and try to finish Love In The Time Of Cholera for tonight's bookclub meet-up. (I'm struggling with it, it's beautiful but a little much). And there's that load of laundry waiting.

Technical Difficulites...

With my header, please stand by :-)