Which Way?

As I was sitting down at my desk and wondering what to pen, I thought, "Should I look in the rear view mirror or straight out the windshield?" I try to be a glass half full kinda gal and not really dwell on the past but then I think about the gift of memory and I think maybe I should look back too.  So let's do a little of both.
2013 was an OK year.  We all had another birthday which is a very good thing. Some of my pals think birthdays are for kids or no big deal.  I think they're a very big deal.  Not having one...just sucks....for everybody!  So, at EIEIO, each one is celebrated to the hilt. Lottery picks for awhile are 7, 31, 35, 61, 63 and 38 (years in wedded bliss)...that number varies depending on who you ask!!  Relatively good health was with us all with a few viruses and aches and pains thrown in for good measure.  Some of us lost teeth....some will grow new ones..........some won't!  It was a year that saw the economy get a little boost...even in home sales.  Jeff was finally able to sell his house in Charlotte and we, ours in Locke.  We all could not be happier for that outcome..................and income!  The 100 + year old family business (until 2007) was piece mealed away and exists no longer... probably my saddest event for 2013.  I find it a bit hard to fathom that this was what Dad had foreseen for it's future but then again, he was a mental man....not one to easily accept change technology that kept the brain from working to it's fullest capacity. Many see that as progress and advancement.  He saw it as....well he just chose not to see it.....! enough of the rear view mirror......

Straight ahead I see............possibly a year of changes.  We're in that stage of our lives where we need to make big, Billy Fucillo, changes....retirement for Lee?  sell the shop?  begin social security?  We're not really the best at accepting change either so these decisions are daunting.  I have a notebook that shows most things in black and white..............and red.  Owning your own business has it's perks but many less than most people assume.  Your pension plan is what you've saved!  HOLY SHIT....we were supposed to save??????  This planning apple didn't fall too far from the tree... We won't starve but our diet may change.
I will be learning one new word a day this year.  This could affect my blog so beware!  You may be the recipients of rambling posts about saponaceous mannerisms or imbricate dominoes. (we'll all learn together!)  I will be outside more and in my recliner less... this is a toughie!  Per advice from my daughter, I will be purchasing less for birthdays and holidays..unless of course, it's for her!  I will keep my desk neat and clean.  My 3rd grade teacher, Miss Ames, tried that in 3rd grade and I've improved at a snail's pace. And last but not least, I will try my hardest to be nicer.... I even bought a sign to remind me daily.

Happy New Year!

Whew....................

Well, we made it through another great Christmas season.  Christmas Eve included the usual traditions: cookies and milk for Santa, carrots and reindeer food for the enchanting eight, Grandma reading The Night Before Christmas and the usual filling of the stockings and loading up the tree!  This year, two randomly sawed off buck legs allowed Grandma to prance around the front lawn providing visible proof that, Yes Bailee, there is a Santa Claus (and reindeer!)  There's practically no end to what this Grandma would do for a brown-eyed, brilliant seven year old!
Christmas morning began with B crawling in bed, imploring us to "wake up" and explain that she "loved, loved, loved Christmas"......... (me too!) Rise and shine...ok, just rise and it was time for coffee and stockings.  A few gifts for B and we moved to breakfast and back to the tree.... The afternoon was relaxing as we counted down to our trip to the airport to retrieve Uncle Jeff from that big, silver sleigh in the sky.. Back to EIEIO for more presents and spaghetti...Green Arch spaghetti.....a gift in itself!
The day after Christmas was full of bonding... James Bond for some.....Seabond for others:-)  We had breakfast in our bacon bowls which made it even more of my favorite meal.  The last of the presents for Bailee...I think Grandma might have tripped over the edge from generous to ridiculous...Oh well...deal about it!!!  A family movie in the theater..well kind of family...The Heat had some other than Christmasy language.  A winter bonfire and burning of the trees then back to the table ( we celebrate a lot at the table) for aged ribeyes and more spaghetti!  Next, a few hours of "Scat" and bedtime once again....for some.
Today we're picking up pine needles, munching on goodies and trying to decide where we'll "eat" and watch SU win their bowl game. Only 2 more sleeps with Jeffrey (well not exactly with him) here so we relish every second!
We're all looking forward to healthy, safe and happy 2014....I still have trouble grasping the fact that we're only a couple of years from Medicare...but I guess it beats not getting there...

Hatfield Christmas

Although we were a few ducks short of a dynasty, we had a fun time at our annual (or is it anal?) Hatfield holiday gathering.  Our North Carolina contingent was basking in their near 70+ degree weather and our Florida and California crews were in short sleeves too.....but wait...you folks don't have anything on us...The snow's gone, we partied on the patio and a dip in the hot tub ended the festivities!!! Welcome to upstate NY:-)
We grilled some aged rib eyes, feasted on salad with homemade blue cheese dressing, stuffed mushrooms, jumbo shrimp, bakers, veggies and more.  Later we chased that with plates of fudge,peanut brittle, Christmas cookies, cupcakes and cheesecake......and then we got presents....we must have been very, very good this year!!!

My favorite reindeer♥

Party on the Patio

HERE'S the beef!

WOW

The "adult (kind of)" table

A little Face Time with our Florida family

Our very own "Zoot on the Shelf"

Ahhhhhhh
 

A Match Made in H----------------:-)

It's 5:00 on a cold, Friday morning. I'm wide awake and have neglected my blog for the past week. Errands, appointments and duties have filled my mornings and lack of ambition, creativity and wit have filled my evenings.  When I went to bed last night, I knew a chill was in the air...inside....... and once again our "state of the art" (I always disliked art) heating system had failed us.  I left Lee a note (he hears nothing after 8 and a tad more than nothing prior to that) and crawled in my snuggly bed.  Ahhh, 4 a.m.     My nose is cold so the heat didn't have an  Easter moment and rise... I decided the warmest spot was right where I was so I burrowed in and tried to return to wherever I was in that dream...I remember it was somewhere warm. That failed so here I am.... catching up on emails, Face Book and my dear blog that lets me say anything I like.  I decided maybe a sweet smelling candle would not only brighten my den and clear my mind but keep me warm.....so I grabbed the closest matches I could find in this big, old,18 drawer desk I call home!  The only ones were these.... Our wedding matches.. (hey it was the favor of the day in 1975).  I struck the first...nothing.  I struck the second.....a little tiny spark.  I began to think this might be an odd metaphor for nearly 40 years of marriage. The spark is gone...what happened to my old flame?  Then came the third match....one strike and the fire had returned.......and the smell of sulfur......yep, all was well with my match made in h............!

Christmas in the City

The girls had a great time in the city Saturday.  The beginning was slow and the ending was slower but the middle was jam-packed with exciting adventure.  The bus broke down in Homer before picking everyone up in Moravia so they weren't on their way until 8 a.m.  They arrived in the city to a snowy downstate day.

First stop was the American Girl store.... The lines were nil and Bailee made her decision to add Caroline to our family.   She's a beauty!  Next they were off to the Empire State Building where they could look out over the snowy city and see...........NOTHING!  Oh well, at least they can say they were there!  Back to Rockefeller Center to watch the skaters and see the tree.  Bailee loved that.  Now for a little shopping...off to Lord and Taylor's, Starbucks and Macy's.  It seems Bailee has a fondness for street vendors and their hotdogs:-)  No cabs for these three...walking all the way ...all the day!  The bus was loaded with weary shoppers at 8 p.m. and they headed back upstate....very......very.......slowly.  Seven (7) hours later they arrived in snowy Moravia.. Their eyes were droopy, their bags were loaded, their wallets were empty and their beds looked pretty inviting.  All in all, that crazy couple Ole Man Winter and Mother Nature wreaked some havoc on Mario, their bus driver, and Aunt Kim's nerves but the trip was a success and already there's talk of another ..................................in the spring!!

Sad but true:-)

An Obituary printed in the London Times.....Absolutely Dead Brilliant!

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has
been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since
his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.
He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:
- Knowing when to come in out of the rain;
- Why the early bird gets the worm;
- Life isn't always fair;
- And maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend
more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children,
are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but
overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy
charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens
suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher
fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job
that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly
children.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses;
and criminals received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a
burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to
realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her
lap and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death,
-by his parents, Truth and Trust,
-by his wife, Discretion,
-by his daughter, Responsibility,
-and by his son, Reason.

He is survived by his 5 stepbrothers;
- I Know My Rights
- I Want It Now
- Someone Else Is To Blame
- I'm A Victim
- Pay me for Doing Nothing

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.

Just had to share.....:-)

All things STEM from imagination!

What a sterling concept Debbie Sterling has embarked upon.  Brainstorming toys for girls... They're  still pink and purple, the colors for girls of all ages, but they stimulate little girls' brains and imaginations......Perfect.. then those little girls grow up to be big girls with working brains and awesome imaginations (not that we aren't already.)  The acronym for this advancement in thinking and play is STEM.... let's get these little minds going in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math... Well she got my vote ......and my money.  I know, I said I was finished shopping....................in September..... but everybody who knows me knows better.. I talk a good game!  So today, I just placed my LAST online order...really!  I bought the Roominator which allows you to build rooms with elevators and merry go rounds that work and this little techy device below that has lots of moving parts as well....that you make move!  It sure is a good thing that the kids have 2 full weeks of vacation this year...we're gonna need it to play with all these toys.... I mean, SHE'S gonna need it to play with all these toys.....;-)

 

http://www.nbcnews.com/business/no-more-ironing-boards-engineer-aims-reinvent-toys-girls-6C10629732

Christmas in Moravia....

This week-end threw us head first (like we weren't already there) into Christmas.  On Saturday, we made the rounds for Christmas in Moravia.  A light dusting of evening snow set the scene perfectly. We signed up for raffles and visited local businesses that were participating. We rode a pony, listened to stories from Mrs. Claus at the library and had lunch at the church Advent Fair. Our next stop was a visit with Santa and a newly, updated ID card from the Sheriff's helpers.  We weren't yet exhausted so we decided to head to the movies and see Frozen.... A wonderful new Disney/Pixar movie.  Sunday morning was breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus, cookie decorating and even a few passes by the Grinch in Locke. We ended the week-end with a quiet and cozy afternoon of football...snowy, often lousy...football.  But even a bad day of football is better than a good day without it..at least in my playbook!!!  It was a fun week-end of Christmas in Moravia.....and Locke and the girls are anxiously awaiting their big trip to New York next Saturday... I hope it's all they are wishing it to be:-)

Amazon drones?

I'm an Amazon junkie.. there, I've gotten through the first step by actually admitting it. About 85% of all I have purchased for Christmas has been through Amazon.com.  I almost expect to click on the site and have someone say, "Morning Sandy, What can we do for you today?" I have been a bit unhappy the last few years as my packages had generally been delivered by UPS... this year more and more are being dropped at our local post office and I have to go lug them to the car...one of the things I disliked about brick and mortar shopping... the lugging!  BUT.....let the heavens open above..maybe in the very near future, an "octocopter" can deliver my packages.  I know the weight limit will be about 5# and I may not be within the 10 mile warehouse range but it's a pretty cool concept.   BUT (again), there may be a very big issue with octocopters flying around my house.  My family really likes to shoot things....especially things flying through the air. On the up side, they are completely safe with me. I welcome flying objects, winged or otherwise, and I can't hit a stationery target at 4 feet.  I decided to do a little research on the subject and found out that these flying delivery devices are somewhat protected.....Take a look:

Amazon delivery drones will be escorted by drones equipped with Drone Operated People Eliminator (D.O.P.E.) missiles in case of delivery disruption. The D.O.P.E. will be operated by the Manually Operated Remote Operation Network (M.O.R.O.N.)

Any customer whose delivery is not received due to failure on the part of the M.O.R.O.N. should contact the Independent Delivery Insurance Operational Team (I.D.I.O.T.) and file a claim to let the I.D.I.O.T. know that the M.O.R.O.N. didn't use the D.O.P.E. to protect your package.

 

I'm realizing that these drones have been totally  (yeah right) vetted in the electronic community so I eagerly await the arrival of one on my doorstep.

The End of an Era

:-(   Today I'm walking around with a bit of a heavy heart.  Everything else I carry is heavy too so it should feel at home.  They say I have a fatty (lumpy) liver and I know most everything else ( above and below the belt) is lumpy too but I've always managed to keep a happy heart and have a glass half full attitude.  We've talked about the whole accepting change thing in our little blog discussions but the talking really doesn't make it easier.  100 + years is a long time to run a successful, small business.  It's made it through depressions and recessions and even fires and now it's kaput! I saw the handwriting on the wall when the fertilizer business was sold then the fuel business was sold and now the feed business has been sold. The real estate remains but this too will be marketed when the mill and bins are dismantled.  The storefront will stay open to sell some bulk product for a couple of years but the guts are history... I think the guts died on December 24, 2006!  I'm not second guessing the decisions made by management and it is rightly their choice to make...so says my head but my heart keeps interrupting.

Hewitt Brothers served many people for many years and I'd like to think it will be remembered fondly as an icon in the small town business world...it will surely be remembered in my world:-)

Hobby Lobby Heaven

One wall of ornaments...there were FOUR

I enjoy shopping......from the comfort of my home, my comfy desk chair and near the TV and frig....but I may have a new obsession with brick and mortar......Hobby Lobby.  The drive is doable albeit through "downtown Ithaca" traffic.  Yesterday, the God's were with me and I hit every single light GREEN....and there were many!  With the exception of cheeseburgers, this store has everything I love!  Many of my favorites were marked at 50% discount yesterday including everything Christmas!!!  Being finished decorating, shopping and wrapping, there was little I needed but I did plan ahead to next Christmas for a few items.  Home decorating items ABOUND>>>>> clever metal signs, wall art of ALL kinds, kid's items, fabric, furniture, vases, floral crafts, woodworking, scrapbooking and more and more and more.  It was amazing.  I kept finding things that I knew others would like so I snapped pictures and sent them on their way... I think I really could be a personal shopper,,,,,personally I loved everything....

                                     I mean seriously.....who takes pictures IN a store.........That'd be me:-)

For the theater

Thanks goodness I ventured here AFTER B's birthday!

                                                                          Man Cave accessories?                                                                              

really, Paris?               

Giving Tuesday

We've made it through Black Friday and Cyber Monday arriving safely at Giving Tuesday.  This is a relatively new holi"day" intended to pique our interest in giving and share our wealth...if we still have any extra in our wallets.  As I mentioned previously, Bailee and I have our sights on the kids at Semillas de Amor in Guatemala.  We're focusing on Fatima most of all.  I figured at this time of my life I would probably be in need of a sponsor myself...someone in AA or GA or even SA (shoppers Anonymous) but I'm thrilled that we are able to be the sponsor.  Semillas de Amor is not your average orphanage or at least what we have always perceived.  These children are loved!  They are taught by caring teachers and given the best possible life they can afford.  Thankfully, some of he things these kids are being taught cannot be purchased.  They're learning gratitude, patience, hope and love.  Those things do not come from wallets or checkbooks.  These children write thank you notes ( I know many living here that don't), they pose for pictures with bright smiles and warm hearts and they give back the love they obviously are receiving.  I think they even love those they've never met. Some of us have trouble loving those we see every day:-(
So today, on Giving Tuesday, I'm hoping that my friends and family will feel good about what they have and share.  The only rich you need to be is in your heart... corny I know, especially from me but we all have that extra $20 and giving it to someone else is really a gift right back to you.  I learned that early on from my Dad... he used to give us gifts on HIS birthday.  Now I know why:-)

A Crafty Christmas

With the majority of my shopping completed, I can now do the fun stuff!  The crafty little things that please me almost as much as the giving part.  I decided I needed to dress up the outside of the house for daytime as well as night.  I bought 2 pair of shutters and Jeffrey painted them bright Christmas red for me.  I donned them in green swags and red snowflakes and my Grinchy hubs (better than some years though) hung them for me yesterday.. I LOVE THEM!!

My other Christmas craft is for Bailee.... ok, kind of for me too.  We're making an American Girl town.  We both have enough imagination so we don't need the actual streets (or do we????) so store fronts are our focus.  So far we are set with the Lincoln Elementary School (Addy's era), Bailee's Gym for the (doll like you), the Red Cross (Molly's era) and the Trading Post for Kaya.  The street lights are coming along and we should have the town up for Christmas soon. Santa has been advised to hopefully contribute some props for Christmas morning!

A new store, Hobby Lobby, has just opened in Ithaca and I think I might need to see if they have any accessories that will brighten up our town.  I may come home brokey wokey but hey, who isn't at Christmas time!

Enjoy a few pix of the Christmas shutters and Global City:-)

Some school supplies...from skewers:-)

Kaya's Trading Post

Bailee's Gym

Lincoln Elementary School

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