Good bye

Good bye November. Wow those 30 days flew by. Birthdays and Thanksgiving are now behind us and we're jumping into December head first. I thought I had done SO well getting the outside decorations up (Thanks Jess) but.... coming in the driveway last night I said "YUK".  I guess I am way too anal about it..period.  Just as in paint...there are many colors of white..or clear in light lingo.  Now we have different categories of lights as well, LED being one of the newest... They cost more, last longer and have a blue tint to them....just like those nasty headlights that I bitch about each time I meet them!  So, why the heck did I buy the them to decorate our yard... I have NO idea and I'm paying for it..literally. After looking from the road last night, I bought more of the darn things to replace the normal white lights on our bushes. I still dislike the lights but at least they'll match. Why couldn't they have a nice green glow...I hate blue.........................................................OK I'll get over it......................
                                   Good bye November......you were good!

Double three's

Thirty-three I thought I was only about 33..yeah right! It's been lots of fun having Jeff home for Thanksgiving and his birthday. I asked what kind of cake he'd like and he said. "fruit roll-ups and mountain dew!"  Maybe age doesn't mean so much after all... fruit roll-ups have always been his favorite....and now Bailee's too. They both even asked for chuck roast for their birthday dinners.... If she starts chewing...I'm drawing the line!!!
She sure has been happy to have her uncle home.  She follows a little too closely and loves his hugs.  He would be such a good Dad but I don't see that in his future:-(We still have another week with him and then he'll have to go back to work for a few weeks so he and Heather can return for Christmas on the 23rd. All the hustle and bustle will be over before we know it but it's sure fun while it lasts!!

Confessions of a closet traditionalist!

As I laid in bed last night, I was thinking about all the tales of wonderful, traditional childhood Thanksgivings I could share with you in my post Turkey day blog. I could share them.....if I had any :-( I have Christmas tales I could tell or tales of venturing "out" to eat on Mother's Days and Easters but sadly I remember no poignant, or otherwise, tidbits of Thanksgivings. I'm pretty sure somebody cooked something that day but obviously nothing that said "wow, this is amazing!"  We had some traditions on holidays like waiting at the top of the stairs for Dad to get the movie camera going and Mom to hold the giant floodlights. We'd open one gift at a time (still today) so everyone could see exactly who was getting what from whom and it was always juice and coffee, stockings, breakfast and presents (still today.)  As children, we then went over to Grandma Hewitt's for another gift and dinner. I remember the games (button, button who's got the button and bingo) and raspberry sherbet balls. I also remember being sent to the den to sit, till I learned that I shouldn't say (out loud) that my cousin was a spoiled brat and nobody really liked her even though Grandma said "I know but we don't say it!!" That was about a 1/2 century ago...my memory's ok! Once we were "out of the house", Christmas dinner at "home" was spaghetti.. which was great... no fuss, no muss no "wow!"

 My family Thanksgivings began when I became a member of the Hatfield family...and that was long before 7/19/75.  Tradition is seeped deep inside this family. There was never a question where I would spend the 4th Thursday of November. Never a question where I was welcome.  I, too, had to earn my place at the big table and I did! There was always an extra plate and warm heart at Grandma Iva's table. Throughout the past 40+ years I have watched babies try their first solid food at that table.  I have heard the same stories, laughed at the same jokes and recalled why we never had beets at Grandmas. I have played Bingo and guessed how many candy corns were in the jar just to win a box of kleenex or a brand new toothbrush. I have sat in a room that barely fit the furniture much less a huge table and 30+ people. Memories of these Thanksgivings make me smile... the lack of them with Hewitts makes me sad....but only for a second. Moreover these memories keep me aware of how important traditions are in a family and how important it is to maintain and pass them on.  Yesterday, our tables weren't quite as full as in the past but thanks to Lee, we had our fried oysters (Ok I didn't but most did). I'm sure Grandma was smiling down and giving her first born grandchild a great big "Atta Boy!" while we were smiling up :-)

TNYS

Thanksgiving New York style..... I'm not sure whether we should be stuffing a turkey or building an ark.... Lots of rain for today.. On a brighter note, the falls are GLORIOUS!!  No snow for tracking deer and the next four days are predicting 60's. There just might be something to this global warming thing..I'm thinking this week-end will shine with all the Christmas lights that will be hung over the next few, warm days. We're almost decorated outside, thanks to Jess, and inside trimmings will start on Friday.  No shopping for me that day.. I'm finished, remember? Tomorrow will be time for the Macy's Parade and some family time.... Will catch you all on Friday.

I wish you ALL the most wonderful day of memory making, turkey eating and football watching.......Enjoy every single day!!!

Black Friday...

Every day in the next 6-7 has an adjective..Friday, of course, is Black Friday. I'm not sure if it means the stores try to get back in the black or if it's because everyone leaves early when it's still black outside. I don't think are any racial connotations in-volved...for once.  We now have Gray Wednesday which is the day before Thanksgiving.  Next Monday is Cyber Monday, the  day when the most internet sales are placed.  I, on the other hand, celebrate Cyber September and October.  I'm done!  no really..I am!!! A new day is beginning this year......Small Business Saturday. I think this is may be one of the best ideas yet. I always have stocking stuffers to pick up and odds of ends to tie up!  I'm pretty good about shopping locally. I get ALL my groceries at Modern Market and most anything else I need, I can find at Kinneys, the $ Store, Alpine or True Value.  I'm a little lax at shopping at Jennings but I'm not a big clothes horse....Just ask my old jeans and t-shirts.  I'm not sure if today has a name but I am going to Lowes to exchange some lights and WalMart to pick up my last internet order. So maybe today is Totally Done Tuesday.  No really, I'm done:-)

Let the shooting begin

Yikes... I so dislike ( we can no longer use the word hate...per Bailee)...10-12 hunters off in a pack armed with weapons, ammo and many more doe permits than ever before. All returned safely along with blood stained camo and smiles on their faces.
Jess hit what has been dubbed the "family buck!"  Many have offered the "nice rack" comment to her which she has accepted with humor, grace and smiles.  Today, being Monday, things are semi back to normal. Bailee is off to school (another 2 day week), the shop is officially closed for the week...It IS a holiday week you know and my Monday routine is back in progress... Ahhhh....I love Mondays!  You'll notice the cute 3 turkeys in the picture above......NO, the other picture with the 3 eatable turkeys!! We had fun gluing them together last night. You can't beat chocolate glue!
It'll be Jeff's turn to cook tonight... I am blessed with two children who can and like to cook... Must have been a skill passed down through osmosis!  Christmas lights are finished on the trees out front... something a little different this year!  Just the porch railings left and we're set to light things up on the 1st.  Mickey Mouse is already decorating Jess's house and the big, old fashioned, colored lights will be on the bushes at 1VP (VanPelt) by the end of the week.  We get Miss B again for Thanksgiving this year.... always a huge thing to be thankful for.  We'll snuggle in and watch the parade on Thursday morning and then head to Uncle Jon's for dinner. It's pretty cool to have my whole crew here (missing Heather :-(. Some football, food and ornament giving and then we're on to the Christmas holiday... Let the good times begin!!!

More Andyisms

As you know, Andy Rooney holds a special place in my heart.... His rough wit mixed in with his abundant wisdom gave us this bit of insight into how he really felt....like there was ever any question:-)

I've learned....That the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.

I've learned....That when you're in love, it shows.
I've learned....That just one person saying to me, 'You've made my day!' makes my day.
I've learned... That having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.
I've learned....That being kind is more important than being right.
I've learned....That you should never say no to a gift from a child.
I've learned....That I can always pray for someone when I don't have the strength to helphim in some other way.
I've learned....That no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with.
I've learned....That sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.
I've learned....That simple walks with my father around the block on summer nights whenI was a child did wonders for me as an adult.
I've learned....That life is like a roll of toilet paper.. The closer it gets to the end,the faster it goes.
I've learned....That we should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for.
I've learned....That money doesn't buy class.
I've learned....That it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.
I've learned...That under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.
I've learned....That to ignore the facts does not change the facts.
I 've learned....That when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.
I've learned ....�;That love, not time, heals all wounds.
I've learned....That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am.
I've learned....That everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.
I've learned... That no one is perfect until you fall in love with them.
I've learned...That life is tough, but I'm tougher.
I've learned... That opportunities are never lost; someone will take the ones you miss.
I've learned.... That when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.
I've learned... That I wish I could have told my Dad that I love him one more time before he passed away.
I've learned....That one should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them.
I've learned....That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.
I've learned....That when your newly born grandchild holds your little finger in his little fist, that you're hooked for life.�;
I've learned....That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it.
I've learned....That the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done.

I've always professed that the more I have to do, the more I get done...Now I know I'm right..... off to get something done..... Jeff's on his way home♥