SNOW! Well, at least a LITTLE!

Yesterday, as I looked outside, I wondered where the expression "green Christmas" came from....here is the Bristolwood, it was more like UGLY gray and BROWN! This was the view from the side of the house......


Even my little stream that cheerfully wanders in the front yard was looking pretty frumpy!

Well, I guess in looking at this picture of the house, you CAN see SOME green..................

I was going to upload these pictures and use them yesterday, but then felt a twang of guilt....shame on me for feeling SO sorry for myself...after ALL, it is ONLY *S-N-O-W*! Then, when I woke up this morning, the pallette was "changed"!

Here is a picture from the front porch.

And, the back yard!

Yes, this little "dusting" of snow made me feel a WHOLE lot better! And, I felt more "Christmasy"! hehehe Too bad this wasn't here two days ago. Ah well, we did get SOME snow!

As I was snapping pictures, I took a picture of my "Scottie Wreath". I made this about three years ago, and I love the way it adds so much color to the door!

If anyone can tell me exactly HOW to do a NEAT blanket stitch, I would greatly appreciate it! I made the little Scotties for the wreath out of black felt, stitching around the edges, and lightly stuffing each little fellow! Here is a closeup of one.....

You can see my stitching skills are lacking!

Late this afternoon, we met Carly. I had some soap I wanted to give her for her new pup, Joe. Carly said the little fellow needed a bath, and she wanted a mild soap. I had made one up for my boys, and I figured she might like it. I also packed up a couple of small oxtail bones to greet the new man. Oh, is he DARLING!!!!!

Carly brought Joe out to meet us. Poor little boy began to shiver....Carly said he is NOT fond of the cold, so her daughter, Sarah, grabbed a little blanket to wrap him up! He is so cute and you can tell he is very trusting and sweet!!!!

Now, tell me....does Carly look HAPPY??? She is just totally taken by this little guy. Does it matter that he wet on her son Kyle, her NEW chair, and her yesterday? NOPE....it was an accident! Does it matter that he spent 2 1/2 hours HOWLING last night? NOPE....he was LONELY!!!! The whole family is SMITTEN with this fellow, and he already has EVERYONE wrapped around his PAWS! I am so happy that Carly and her family and Joe found each other!

The kids all told me the BEST Christmas present of all is Joe!

The Day After Christmas

Well, today is the day after Christmas and we still have no snow! Over at the mountain, the snow must have degraded quite a bit. There was no activity on Christmas Eve and the lights were out last night as well. We have lived here since 1992, and there has never been a year like this.

The weatherman had promised some snow last night and today, but the forecast was changed to all rain today. Everyone talks about a "green" Christmas, but here in the Bristolwood, everything seems to look gray and brown!

The good news is that Carly must travel today, and the rain will be easier for her than snow! She has been nearly BURSTING, as she awaited yesterday to announce the good news to her kids. She made a card and hung it on the Christmas tree....inside was a picture of a little black and tan Dachshund. She wrote that his name is Joe and tomorrow he is coming home to live with you!
Carly said it took a minute for the message to register, then the kids went NUTS! Her middle child, a daughter, was reduced to tears! The kids have been wanting a dog so much, but the timing was just not right.

Carly's husband told her a couple of weeks ago that she might have to pick out her own present this year. She called me and told me she had an inkling that perhaps he was speaking in "code" and maybe he was going to get her a new dog? She took him lunch later in the day, and he finally told her that was his plan.

Carly needed no further words....she went straight to work, fixing up some little things that needed done and cleaning up all the floors and rooms in her house! She went through her closet, ridding out things that hadn't been worn in ages. I think the thought of a dog catapulted a whole lot of nervous energy, as she moved through her house like a tidal wave!

She called a breeder she had previously spoken to and asked if she still had a certain little fellow. He is almost 2 years old (his birthday is December 31) and has been to obedience classes. He sounds wonderful and is all housebroken. With her busy schedule, Carly was thrilled beyond belief when the breeder said, yes, Joe is still available.

Carly and her husband went out last Sunday to meet Joe, and it was love at first sight for all involved. The kids knew nothing about the covert meeting....they were told their parents were Christmas shopping!

The kids wanted to know if anyone else knew about Joe. Carly told them yes, EVERYONE knew! She had told the people at Starbucks, her in-laws, and we all knew! She went on to tell them that our kids knew about Joe, too. HOWEVER, they were instructed that under penalty of DEATH they were NOT to even HINT at this! The youngest looked Carly right in the eye and said, "Your mother is quite harsh, isn't she?" When Carly told me this, I nearly fell over laughing!

Well, Santa was very gracious to our family, bringing lots of goodies and things that we need! We were supposed to travel to visit with my parents, but with Ben coming down with whatever it was that Michelle had, we stayed home. Thankfully, I had taken a turkey breast out of the freezer a couple of days ago. Our Christmas fare was small, but tasty! No one complained, and it was very informal and nice.

After we had opened our presents, we watched the movie The 12 Dogs of Chrsitmas. It was cute, and I never tire of watching Christmas movies. They are the best in my opinion! Too many movies today leave you feeling uninspired and with a sick feeling....I love Christmas movies because they always seem just the opposite! I guess I am a sucker for happy endings!

It seems like Christmas came far too early this year....how can we possibly be heading into 2007?

Am I Brave, or What?

Ah, yes. Late yesterday afternoon, I did something I have not done in years and years! I braved the world of the SHOPPING MALL! Wow!!! OK, so I have been to the mall, but not three days before Christmas!

I had several things to do before I could leave....I set Michelle up with the vaporizer. She said her throat felt tight and dry, so I filled the vaporizer and set it up for her. As I thought about it, I asked if she might like some Vick's or perhaps some Eucalyptus EO in the air. She opted for the EO, and within a few minutes, her room smelled so nice.

I had made a meatloaf in the Crockpot around noon, so it was nearly done. I put it in a 5 quart oval pot and it looked and smelled so GOOD! I have been using the same Crockpot recipe for years, and it is always good. Mark said he never really liked meatloaf until he tasted this one!
The recipe is from the book Crockery Cookery, which was published in 1975! I poured the ketchup-based topping on it, and set it to warm, hoping it would be good when we arrived back home.

I quickly wrapped up a parcel I intended to send after Christmas, but hey, I am AHEAD for once! Ben grabbed three letters that needed to be sent, and we were off! We HAD to be to the post office (about 15 miles away) within 25 minutes, so we hustled along!

We made it to the post office with about 3 minutes to spare! It was totally empty and it was a quick stop! Hurrah! Off to the mall!

When we arrived at the shopping mecca, I felt my hands grippping the steering wheel tensely. WHAT was I thinking? I caught myself and took a deep breath to try to relax....We pulled in and even though the line of headlights looked as though it went on ad infinatum, we found a parking slot about 10 spaces from the mall entrance. It was pouring down rain in sheets, so we scurried to the door!

At this point, I must interject that Ben is a serious shopper with an intensity....he knows exactly what to get everyone, and he hones in on gifts as though being driven by a homing device! Last Sunday, I bought a paper, and before we knew what hit it, he had cafefully cut out pictures and descriptions of each item he intended to purchase.

We walked around the mall, finding several items we thought would be good to buy. We went inside a few stores, combing the aisles, and although there were many, many people, it really didn't seem too bad! We spent about an hour and fifteen minutes at the mall, then decided to leave.

Ben had only eaten a cookie yesterday. He was excited about going shopping, so I picked him up a sandwich from Wendy's for which he was immensely grateful! We headed home and arrived at nearly 7:30.

As soon as I was in the door, I took the boys out into the downpouring rain. (WHY couldn't it have been SNOW!!!!) After they finished, I grabbed a bag of red-skinned potatoes, and cut them into small pieces and boiled them for mashed potatoes. I loved mashed potatoes, but I really don't like them "plain". I looked up a recipe on the internet for Applebee's Garlic Mashed Potatoes and they suggested adding roasted garlic to the potatoes. Well, I don't always have roasted garlic, or the time to roast garlic. So, one day, I decided to just add freshly minced garlic to the potatoes. They were GREAT! So, last night as I hustled to prepare the potatoes, I was a little annoyed when I found no half and half to add. So, I grabbed the heavy cream, adding very little....OH WOW! I ground fresh pepper and sea salt....added a dab of butter....YUM!

By 7:50, we were finally eating! We had the meatloaf, potatoes (I leave the skin on and use the "wire whip" on the kitchen aid mixer...it does a terrific job of mincing the skins into small pieces) and brussel sprouts. For dessert, we had Shortbread Scotties from the mix my Secret Santa had sent. They were such a tasty way to end the meal! Michelle came down and only ate a cookie, saying her throat was too sore.

This morning, when I checked on Michelle, she said she is feeling a bit better. She has spent two days in bed, sleeping. She has eaten precious little, and I was worried about her. Well, she wanted to know if there was any food left over from last night. I assured her there was, except the potatoes were gone. She sighed, and I assured her I would make some for her!

Last night when we had returned home, the wind was absolutely HOWLING! Today, I grabbed my winter coat and took the boys out. I was shocked....it was so WARM! When we got on the porch, I checked the thermometer, and it said 40! The stream in the front yard is running quite well, and everything looks so clean! And, it should! With the RAIN we have been getting instead of SNOW!!! I did hear the weatherman say there is a chance we might get some "measurable snow" on Christmas Night. Ah well, I guess we take what we get, eh?

The First Day of Winter

The calendar proclaims (rather boldly) that today begins the first day of winter....the shortest day of the year, and the *coldest* weather? Today we are told we will be reaching into the 40's. I do NOT live in the Carolinas for pity's sake!

Yesterday, as I was walking around the house, something caught my eye....the poor daffodils have obviously mistaken the warm weather as the heralding of SPRING, and have sent up beautiful green shoots!

As I closely observed the garden, I also saw that the Columbines were tricked as well by this freakish weather we are experiencing! Cruel, I tell you...pitifully cruel!

We went out into the amazing world of holiday retail yesterday afternoon. I was nearly fearful at what we might find, but instead of crazed shoppers with eyes glazed, frantically digging through merchandise, I was surprised to find many civil, smiling faces!

I had to run to the post office to ship a box and add some postage to a Christmas card filled with images of our Murphy...I just KNEW that the breeder would love to see how the little fellow has grown into such a charming young man! She only lives about three hours from here, so I am sure the card will reach its destination in good time! The box was for a friend. I had made her some soap specifically for her, but getting the box to the post office was so hard! I always send out UPS, as it is much easier, but this box was light, and needed to be sent postal. The worker there was apologizing that the box might not reach its destination in time for Chrsitmas. I assured her that was OK, but she suddenly smiled and told me that many post offices hire extra workers to help push through express and priority boxes at the last minute. Perhaps the box MIGHT get there before Christmas! Either way, it was refreshing to see someone who was so concerned!

As we spent time running around, it was obvious that Michelle was not feeling well. She had awakened with a cough and sore throat yesterday morning, and it was making her slow down. She and I sat in the truck while Ben and Mark shopped....at one point, she was so chilly, I covered her with a blanket, and she fell asleep for a little while as I tuned in the radio to some "Traditional Holiday" music. The dogs were up front with me, and it was so cozy! The darkness had set in, and it was rather fun watching shoppers hustle along with their packages.

When we arrived home, we put things away, and Ben and Mark stayed outside for some time. I thought perhaps they were out in the garage, planning a project or fixing something. After about half an hour, Ben came in the house and asked me to come outside. He and Mark had picked up some multicolored net lights, and Ben decorated our two Dwarf Alberta Spruces! They are so pretty. I am a TOTAL nut when it comes to Christmas lights. If I had my way, I would spend hours, days...driving about, looking at the lights!

After our busy day, we came inside and Ben turned on the television. TNT happened to be on, and of all things! A Christmas Carol happened to be playing. Funny! I had bought a small paperback of this work yesterday at Border's! We watched this version, circa 1999, and once again, enjoyed it. We had watched the Muppet version the previous night. I will never tire of this classic....

And, as Tiny Tim exhorted, "God Bless us, everyone!"

I'm Screaming for a White Chrsitmas!

Just like the ones I used to know................

Well, I gave up crying and feeling badly about not having any snow. I haven't mentioned it in DAYS! I tried to even FORGET about thinking about snow! But....as I passed the ski area tonight, I witnessed snow blowing about and people swishing along down the hill. As I watched, it seemed so surreal....so artificial. I mean, there is no snow anywhere else...just those silly trails coming down the mountain.

I know that the weather we have been "enjoying" has made a lot of people happy. They are thrilled to not have to deal with slippery roads, wet clothing, and cleaning the ice off frozen vehicles.

I don't know if it has to do with the fact that I hurt my back, or if it is the weather! I am so crabby and miserable! AND, I admit it!

I have done precious little shopping and it really doesn't seem to matter. Somehow the missing element....SNOW!....has left this year feeling so "UN" Christmaslike! I know that Christmas isn't about the weather, but it just doesn't seem like Christmas without snow.

A couple of nights ago, the weatherman said that we *might* be able to observe the Northern Lights. I anxiously searched the skies, but nada....

I did manage to sit down and actually watch a Christmas special on TV! OK, so I wasn't "sitting"...I was lying down! My back is finally feeling much better now!!! YAY! Oh, the special I watched was on PBS. It was called Christmas by a group called Tonic Sol-Fa. This group does all of their music a'cappella and they are fantastic! Here is their their URL:

http://www.tonicsolfa.com/

If you take a look at their website, there is a comprehensive listing of dates, times, and channels that broadcast their special. I *HIGHLY* recommend this one.

Perhaps I am not alone in my "melancholy"....I have been thrilled by the SINGLE blossom on my Christmas Cactus. As I looked at the plant today, I did notice there are several buds coming along, but it seems this plant is only allowing a single blossom at a time!!!

Only six more days...

No Need to Fear!

Yesterday afternoon, I decided to take the boys up to the woodpile...once again...to take some pictures of them wearing their snazzy new caps!

HOWEVER, we started off AGAIN just like the last "photo shoot"!

I just cannot BELIEVE these little *monsters* do this to me! I can hear them laughing...YOU look THAT way...and I'LL look THIS way....hahahahaha!!!!!

I AM the *alpha* dog, however, and what *I* say, goes!

After I scolded the boys, making them know I was thoroughly dissatisfied with their Scottitude, they decided to cooperate at least a LITTLE bit. Murphy wanted to know if I could perhaps "adjust" his cap?

After a slight adjustment, Murphy is looking so handsome in his new chapeau!

Of course, Angus assures Murphy that if he cooperates with me on this, there *will* be a payment due......

Suddenly, Angus jumps as something catches his attention! Alas, it is merely a squirrel romping about and rustling leaves.....

Okay, once the boys realized just what is expected, they began to watch diligently...WHERE is that sleigh with the "jolly old elf" and eight flying reindeer?

Well, rest assured! All children of the world will be able to sleep peaceably on Christmas Eve, as Angus and Murphy, members of the Chimney Watch Santa Patrol, shall be on guard, watching to make sure all is well!
Of course, there shall be TWO plates left tableside this year.....one for the jolly old elf, and one for the two sweetest little Scottie fellows in the world! Well, at least in the Bristolwood!!!

A Rather Exciting Day!

This week has been kind of somber....I guess the death of my uncle touched us deeply. Also, being "home" really left a kind of melancholy feeling with me...I have always been happy where I am, but this past time, seeing all of my cousins and their families, made me feel a little homesick.

This morning, I heard a light tapping at the door. I have been moving a bit slowly as a few days ago, I did something while lifting a box that sends an "electric" feeling up my back. This is not a good feeling at all! So, I nearly missed the FedEx guy! He had left two packages on the porch in front of the door!

Thinking perhaps Mark had ordered something, I hauled the boxes into the office. As I looked at the labels, I got so excited! My Secret Santa gift arrived! For the past three years, I have joined in this exchange on the CyberScots list. I got so excited, and so did the whole family, Scotties included!

The generosity of my "Santa" was just so amazing! Kathy is from Texas, and I guess she is compelled to do things "big!"

I wasn't sure I could get a picture of all of the goodies, but this is what I got! Let's see....there was a Scottish Terrier "The Dog" calendar, an ADORABLE Scottie garden weather vane, (the Scottie part is in front of the calendar), a game of Dogopoly, a tin with Licorice Scottie candy, a box of shortbread mix complete with a Scottie cookie cutter, a remote-control car for the Scotties to CHASE!, a Scottie nightshirt, 3 really cute ornaments, a special "Santa Watch" hat for Angus and one for Murphy, a cute little Jim Shore Scottie figurine, and five Scottie linens!Phew! That is so much booty!!!!

The flowers in the background were from Angus's birthday party on Monday night. The party was short because we needed to scurry to get our sleep for our travels on Tuesday.

Here are the linens. I love the little old-fashioned Scotties on them! Aren't they cute?

I just HAD to post a picture of the Santa Watch hat! These are made so incredibly well! We put them on Angus and Murphy, and I cannot wait until it is light out tomorrow so I can get a picture of them wearing their caps!

After all of the sadness of the earlier part of this week, this package was just such a pressure relief! We had so much fun looking at everything and "oooooohing and aaaaahhhing!"

I always tell Mark I would not even care if I never got a gift in return...I have so much fun wrapping my Scottie goodies for my recipient....but my Santa far exceeded anything I could have even imagined!

Thank you, Kathy! Ever think of moving to the North Pole?

Another Sad Manelick Gathering...

Yesterday, we made the drive to Pennsylvania to attend the funeral service for my Uncle Nick, who passed away last Saturday evening.

Mark, the kids, the dogs, and I all made the trip this time and it was a beautiful day for traveling. There was no precipitation and the roads were clear the whole way there and back again.

The service was held at the funeral home, and it was so wonderful. My uncle had insisted on a closed casket, and it was draped with an American flag, as he had served in the Army Air Corps during WW II. The flowers were all in Christmas colors of red, white, and greens. There were pictures of Uncle Nick throughout his life. A few people related some great memories and it was a time of warmth and comfort at a hard time.

My Uncle Nick was an outstanding man who loved his family so. Unfortunately, when my youngest cousin was only weeks old, my uncle's wife ran off on Christmas Eve, never to return to the family. I cannot imagine how a woman would get through this.....being left with six children to care for alone, but a man? With a tiny baby! Somehow, my uncle managed, and he has five decent, good children as his legacy. One of my cousins, Laura, was killed several years ago in an auto accident.

After the service, there was a gathering for the family at my cousin, Cindy's house. She and her husband have the most charming house I have seen in a long time! Every room is decorated in the most gorgeous designs! Christmas happens to be Cindy's favorite time of the year, and her collection of Santas was astonishing! In every nook....on nearly every wall, there was a Santa!

She has cross-stitched many, many marvelous Santas as well!

Oh goodness! I forgot a picture of our *hostess*

Yes, this is Cindy's adorable and very well-mannered Boxer, Pepper! Even Pepper was decked out for the holiday season with a pretty Christmasy collar around her neck! She was so fantastic, even with a house filled with people!

As I wandered around from room to room, I heard many stories about my Uncle Nick. My father and his youngest brother, Dick, were telling some stories that were so funny! One of them was that after the war was over, a crate arrived at the farmhouse of my grandparents. Thinking it was Uncle Nick's belongings, the family was shocked to find a German Shepherd! It seems my uncle didn't have the heart to leave behind his company's mascot. He decided the dog had better come home with him! What a surprise! Also, he brought home other memorabilia, like shells and bomb housings....my uncle said my grandmother used a bombshell as a doorstop for several years!

Most of my cousins have remained in fairly close proximity of where my grandparents lived. I was one of the few that wandered away. It was so incredible to go home and still be recognized by everyone, and to be hugged warmly. It almost feels as though all the years melt away when with family again.

Although the gathering was for a sad occasion, I am so glad we were able to attend. It is always so good to see family again!

A Little Levity

Sometimes when things get so serious, I need to just "chill out"...I am pretty good at this, so I think I will give a little behind-the-scenes pictures of our little *photo shoot* with the Scotties yesterday.

First of all, let me tell you, when those doggies saw the scarves coming, they were not happy. OK, we can deal with that. So, we set them on a pile of basswood I had cut late last summer.....

Are you ready for the first picture?

Absolutely charming, eh? As soon as the camera came out, they looked away!

This is the second picture I took, and I really like this one. I'm not sure what they were looking at, but I like seeing their profiles.

Michelle was my faithful assistant in this venture, helping orchestrate the whole ordeal. And speaking of orchestration, I told Michelle that perhaps holding a small stick above my head and moving it would get their attention so they would look at me. Sort of like a conductor's baton! Well, Michelle swayed the stick above my head whilst I kept my face to the camera. I was unaware she had picked a L-O-N-G stick until................

Yes, being a diehard Scot involves things like protecting your Mum from sticks swaying over her head! Murphy loves attacking vicious intruders....things like sticks, rakes, vacuum cleaners....you know, things that might harm us!

Note Angus's stance....he was also on guard....however, he was looking to make sure none of those wild squirrely things came near! Angus is much too distinguished to partake in such nonsense like attacking sticks....

I kinda liked the next picture, too, but as I looked, they kinda looked like one big Scottie "blob".

Kind of a Scottie "push me, pull you".

By this point, I was pretty sure that I had at least one good and acceptable picture for my cards. Michelle was still trying to get both Scotties to cooperate. She then stood behind me and mentioned the word, "Cookies!"

Yes, that is Angus's typical reaction to the word! Rather humorous!

You can see that we have some good fun with these little companions of ours! And, if you think *WE* are nuts, take a look here!

http://www.whitehouse.gov/barney/#

Yup, we are *NOT* alone! hehehehehe

Another Topsy-Turvy Day

Yesterday seems like a blur....we spent the day at Carly's house, helping her mount her new Tappan microwave/ fan above her stove. Carly worked like a wild woman, Mark advising her along the way. She scrollsawed and hammered and wired and did all kinds of *stuff*. The net result is great, and we are happy we could at least give moral support!

Today, we went out to the garage to attempt the brakes on the Explorer again. As Mark and I worked, he called me over to have a look....ugh....yet ANOTHER problem. The rear passenger side coil spring was broken. Mark said it looked like it broke very recently. As I looked at the spring, I could see that it was broken in another place. It had snapped what looked like a long time ago as it was quite rusty. This is a little more than upsetting as this is a 2002 model with about 41,000 miles on it. The good news is that the rear brakes are all done and the rotors were in really good condition. No new ones needed! When Mark does the front brakes, he will inspect those rotors as well, but in a glance at them thus far, they look to also be in good condition. Yay, the brake job won't be nearly as expensive as we thought. We will, however, need to have that spring looked at and replaced.

As Mark worked for a little while, I was able to sneak off and take a few pictures of the boys. I finally settled on one and made up oodles of wallet size pictures to enclose in my exchange cards.

Sounds simple enough, eh? NOT! After trying the laser printer and two different inkjet printers, we were finally able to print up the pictures. It *only* took about three hours.....

My mom called this evening with some very sad news. My Uncle Nick passed away late this afternoon. This is my father's older brother who was 84. My heart breaks for my cousins, as they loved my uncle so much. He spent many years as a single parent, raising six children, five of whom were girls. This family has had so many tragedies in the past several years. I pray God's peace on this family.

My uncle had a misfortunate accident last September, when the vehicle he was driving backed into a pond. My uncle fought with all his strength and stamina to release himself from the machine, and in the process, he took in a good deal of pond water. A few weeks later, he was in the hospital with pneumonia. I had no heard how he was doing.

I am so grateful that I took the time off from my crazy schedule to attend my aunt Doris's funeral, as I got to visit with my uncle at that time. He was such a strong and admirable man.

Lest We Forgot!

A big thank you to all of those who have served and are currently serving this great country of ours! I realize the US isn't always going to win popularity contests around the world, but I would rather be living here than any other place on this big earth......

May we always remember those who have served....those who have given of their time, efforts, and even lives that we may enjoy living in freedom and peace!

God bless the USA!

Grrrr...What a Crummy Day....

I was THRILLED this morning when I got up at 4:30 to take the boys out. It was actually SNOWING! How excited *was* I? Well, I ran and got my camera! I took two pictures...both into the lights and you could SEE the snow!

This one was off the front porch....(I love those little "trailers"!)

And, one from the back door of the garage....

The sad fact is, this is as far as I got in my picture-taking efforts today. Yup, as I was taking these pictures, I had already made plans to drag out the antique sled (that was mine!) and perhaps tie scarves on the boys and seat them on the sled in the snow. Cute, right?

I made a rip-snorting fire in the garage long before daybreak. By the time Mark and Ben were ready to head out to the garage to do a brake change on the Explorer, the garage was warm enough to work in shirt sleeves despite the temps in the high teens outside.

Mark asked me to help him and Ben get the wheel up in the air and set the jackstands under the car. He was going to do one wheel at a time. NOT!

It took all of our strength to loosen the lug nuts on the first tire. Once this was done, Mark began to take the tire off....NOT! That dirty son of a sea biscuit was adhered so tightly, no cranking, banging, smacking, nor kicking was going to remove it. Mark sprayed WD-40 on it, thinking perhaps that might loosen the bugger up. In the meantime, we moved on to the next wheel.

Can you say EXACT repeat of wheel #1? By this time, I was getting so frustrated. It was well after 11 am by this time. Somehow, I KNEW my day was going to be shot....Mark called the Ford garage and the service manager suggested loosening the lug nuts to finger tight and taking the car for a ride. He suggested doing circles....tight ones....to loosen the "welded on" wheel. He advised the best place to do this would be a parking lot.

We drove two miles to the nearest paved lot. We circled....and circled.....and circled some more.

After doing this crazed exercise, we returned home only to discover that the wheel was as snug as before. Mark tried using a hammer to gently remove the wheel, being so careful not to damage the nice aluminum alloy wheels. Still nothing.

Finally, I remembered that the place where we purchased the tires offers free rotations. Mark called them and they said that everyone was coming in to have their snow treads mounted, but they could do it.

I had made a pot of meatballs and sauce this morning, so before we left, I made pasta and we ate.

We arrived at the garage at about 1:45. I had followed Mark in the new truck as we had several things we could do while waiting on the car. We ran to the post office where I was FINALLY able to mail out two packages to a couple of my Scottie friends. And, I got the stamps to mail all of my Christmas cards. Then, off to Lowe's to grab some screws Mark needed and to look around a little. After that, we stopped at WalMart to grab a few odds and ends. Then, on to the auto supply store to pick up brake pads and rotors....to the tune of over $250.00!

Finally, at about 4 pm, the service man called and said the tires were rotated! Hurrah! BUT, did I know that my car was out of inspection? Like, it was SUPPOSED to be done last FEBRUARY? UGH....I have no idea HOW that happened. We made an appointment for next Tuesday, hoping and praying we can get the new brakes on by then!

By the time we got back home, it was dark, so no cute Scottie pictures to send. I told Michelle that we will get up early tomorrow, and as SOON as the sun is UP, we are OUTSIDE to take pictures. She agreed.

Oh, I forgot to mention that I got to do one of my FAVORITE things TWICE today! (NOT!!!!!!!!) On the way to the garage, I had to fill up the Explorer. On the way home, I got to fill up the pickup truck. The gas station is located at the head of the lake and the wind is exceedingly STRONG there. AND, my warm little gloves were at home on my table.......ughhhhhhhh..........I figure the wind chill factor must have been about -45 there as I stood filling the bottomless tank.

OK, I am just going to go hide under the covers and PRETEND this day never happened! I feel as though I was run over by a Mac truck. Sometimes life is just draining, and THIS was one of THOSE days!

Tomorrow, we are going to Carly's house. Mark is going to help her install her new Microwave/fan combo. She bought this on Black Friday and Mark agreed to help her...it will be a nice change after the events of this day.

So much for singing Christmas carols, wrapping presents, watching old movies, baking cookies, and doing all the FUN stuff....oh, how I LONG for simpler days.......And, if you are doing any of the above things, please know I am there in spirit!

Dress Rehearsal!

OK...so it is supposed to be 40 degrees today...it is obvious to me that SNOW is NOT in the making any time soon. (although I understand my hometown was under a snow advisory yesterday....there is NO place like HOME!!!!)

Yesterday, I decided to consider my options and Michelle and I played dress rehearsal with the Scotties. Hmmm...where should we place their tiny hineys? Let's see.....how bout next to the little Christmas tree. After all, it IS "Scottie-size"! We *placed* the boys and there was JUST enough room for their hineys and NOT much else.....

TAKE 1....or, WHY do my boys resemble WINSTON CHURCHILL????

Take 2..."Hey, Angus, tisn't THAT far of a leap, is it?"

TAKE 3..."MURPHY! Stop horsing around, or we are gonna become permanant FIXTURES!"

And, finally, a fair picture. Both boys looking, but the exposure is not so great.

So, still holding on to those cards and thinking they might not get sent til JANUARY! The weather report said colder tomorrow with a possibility of SQUALLS.....hmm....squalls COULD be just the ticket. OK, we will hold out ONE more day. Then, those cards get sent...picture or NO!

Aha! We Have a *Light Dusting*!

Yes, we got a light dusting of snow yesterday and this morning, too! Right now, I am thinking perhaps I could meander over to the ski area and take pictures. After all, I can heard the hydrants happily humming every time I take the boys out!

In looking at Blogger "problems", I saw a comment about not being able to post pictures. It said that if that happens, you need to go into "settings" and fiddle around with the "FTP" info. As it was, I was going to ask Mark about it last night, but I forgot! This morning, the little bar is BACK! Hurrah! No need to bother Mark!

So, here is my little tree I mentioned the other day.

The little tree definitely needs some decorations, but no one has been so inclined! I need to comment that this picture, as well as the wreath, look out of focus, because I took them in the total darkness! (WHERE is that tripod?)

I am hoping Michelle will help me take pictures of the boys today so I can (FINALLY) send out those cards!

The weather report is calling for "flurries"! Perhaps.........

My 100th Entry!

As I was about to begin bellyaching about our LACK of snow here in the Bristolwood, I saw that this is my 100th entry in my blog! I had contemplated beginning a blog about two years ago, but always felt too intimidated to begin. Now, in looking back at previous posts, this is kind of cool. I have always wanted to journal, but wanted to add photos and other elements. An "e" blog is pretty nice, as it is easy to add photos and such! I made memory photo albums for the kids when they were small, and I just love embellishing and making things "pretty". When one thinks about it, life is all about "themes"....We go from one season of life into another, and it is nice to have left a piece of each season "bookmarked" for those who might care to take a look at some point.

I have been trying to get some decorating done...when Michelle and I went to the non-event show, we took along a little Christmas tree I bought last year at WalMart for $5.00. Rather than boxing it back up again, I decided to place it on a table in the living room for now. When I took it to the show, I had completely forgotten lights for it, so I bought some "cluster lights" from the dollar store. These have a little group of several lights in each "cluster". The net effect is that this little tabletop tree lights up the whole room!

Okay, now that I told about the little tree, my button to add pictures seems to have disappeared! Hmmmmmm....WHERE did it go?

Well, I also hung our big wreath on the garage. This wreath is 5 feet in diameter...It came with white lights wired in it, but I didn't think it was good enough, so I added a set of 150 muticolored lights last year. Well, as it seems to work out so often, when I placed the wreath on the outside of the garage, only a small portion of the white lights lit...We fiddled around for a while with it, then took the multicolored lights out, and replaced them with another set.

Now, I am going to bellyache!!! It is Sunday night and we have NO snow!!! When I got up with the dogs this morning, I could hear the hydrants over at the ski mountian, working to make some snow. Sad, sad, sad! Maybe I need to buy one of those things and decorate my house! I still have no pictures of the Scots for my cards. Tomorrow, we are going to take pictures. We will just have to change our setting. Bummer, but sometimes things just work out differently than we thought!

Wild Weather With Whipping Winds!

Well, today is Friday, and we STILL have no snow. Boohoo...

We were supposed to receive a shipment today, but instead, we decided to make a supply run. This is something that isn't *really* necessary, but has become somewhat of a "tradition". After all, we do have most of the business supplies shipped directly.

Now, the weather forecast for today was a bit "dicey" as our local weatherman describes it! We were expecting high winds with rain turning to snow late tonight.

Mark decided we should try to leave early this morning so we could head back home before too late. He really didn't want to be driving the new truck in bad weather. He hasn't driven it that much yet, and felt a bit uncomfortable about making a long trip. The trip is about 11 hours without stops...

I put together a gift basket of soaps, lotion, and whipped shea butter for out rep, a small basket of soaps for the office girls, and a little crate for the fellow who always helps me load the truck. We were out the door and on our way by 6:30.

We made three stops on our way today...one for banking, and two store stops. The day was beautiful and warm. Although it was overcast, it was still a very nice day.

By the time we arrived at our destination, we had passed through some stormy weather. As it worked out, we were able to load with no rain! Yay!

We began heading home by about 2:30. We stopped at an Arby's for late lunch, then filled the truck with gas and headed for home.

I had wanted to see the movie Polar Express, so Mark had loaded it onto the MP3 player for me. As we drove home, I became steeped in the movie, totally oblivious to anything other than the movie. It seemed funny to me that lights kept flashing, so I looked up. Good heavens! Mark's knuckles were white, and he was stiff as a 2x4....The "flashing" was a sustained lightening show! As I looked up, I could see WHY Mark was so tense....it looked as though we were driving into a sheet of rainfall. The tail lights of cars and trucks in front of us seemed to disappear into the dense wall ahead of us, almost like phantoms ships at sea....When Mark saw me look up, he made a comment about how he hoped he wasn't interrupting my movie....hahaha!!!

Thankfully, this particular portion of our journey was short lived. As we drove, the wind seemed to pick up, but at least we were no longer driving blindly!

Our new truck proved to be worth its weight in gold! Our previous truck was 2 wheel drive. When we bought this new truck, we got 4 wheel drive, and the thing weighs a great deal more because of the 4 wd. Well, we were thrilled to see that our gas mileage was about 19.5 to 20 MPG, even loaded!

As we drove nearer and nearer to home, we observed that the temps had dropped from 73 for our high to about 39. The closer we came to home, the more the wind seemed to pick up. We got home at about 8:30.

The winds are really kicking now. I imagine we will be finding more fallen trees after this round, for sure! We are supposed to be getting some snow later tonight, so perhaps I can get a snowy picture tomorrow.

It is always so much fun to travel, but getting home always feels sooooooo good!

Such a Strange Day Yesterday!

Yesterday was my mom's birthday, and I had planned to wish her a HAPPY BIRTHDAY in this blog, as she reads every day....however, I dashed out of bed (shortly after 4 am) and began labeling soaps and getting things set to rush to the little sale I was doing.....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Mom! I hope you had a wonderful day filled with good fun! You sure had a nice day. How many birthdays have you had such warm weather?

Now, for that sale....it was a total BUST! There were only about 9 vendors at the sale, so that was pretty nice, I thought. There was a woman selling quilts and sweatshirts that she had machine embroidered. Next to her was a woman with a basket business and she had many little items from her business there. Across from them was a woman who did lots of knits....she had made hats, mittens, some shawls. Down the hall, across from us was a woman selling handknits for someone she didn't know (hehehe) as well as cookbooks to support the facility. Next to her, a woman had singing (ad nauseam) snowmen and stuff maybe a little more pricey than stuff from the dollar store. One of her big "draws" was scarves for $6. They were a silk/cashmere blend, from China. We were directly across from this woman, and next to us was a woman who had really nicely hand painted glassware. Around the corner were some women from a beauty salon with hair goodies. Then, there was a spa with handbags and fun stuff across from another SOAPER! Yikes!

When we got to the sale, I needed to head out for some change. Michelle was my assistant for the day and she assured me she would be just fine setting everything up. I had taken a box full of soaps, some lotions and whipped shea butter, and I also grabbed my little Scottie Dog Ornaments. Micelle took a few of her little bracelets that she makes, as well. We had brought a little table top Christmas tree I had bought at WalMart last year for $5. When we unpacked it, I realized it had no lights. Ugh! It was supposed to display my Scotties!

Michelle sent me off to the bank, with instructions to go to the Dollar Tree a short distance from the bank, to pick up some candy and a dish. So, I set out...this was about 9:15. I went to the bank, and then scurried to the Dollar Tree. I grabbed a couple of pretty trays to set stuff on, a couple of doilies, a basket, tiny candy canes, lights for the tree, and an extension cord.

I got back to the sale at about 10:10. What I saw totally surprised me! Michelle had taken our goodies out of the boxes and had that table all decorated to the nines! The table looked as though it was groaning under the weight of all the goods! I never would have imagined everything would look so BEAUTIFUL! She had taken some white crinkle paper and mixed it with red and green metallic shreds and placed it here and there on the table. If an award would have been given for most "beautiful table", it would have been ours...Michelle far surpassed my expectations. And, to my total chagrin, my camera was at home...RIGHT where I had forgotten it on my BED!!!

On Tuesday, I had convinced Mark to head out to the garage with Ben to make me a bunch of little soap crates. The two of them made the most wonderful little crates! I *ordered* two sizes....a two-bar and three-bar model.

They made these little crates so fast, it made my eyeballs spin!

Now, back to the sale...I was a little distressed because I had never given any thought as to how to DISPLAY the soaps. Michelle is one of those "cool" people who never sweats. She told me not to worry...she would display the soaps with no problem. And, as I had left, I knew she WOULD! And, she DID! She merely used the little crates like BLOCKS! Below is how she stacked the crates to raise them up, displaying the soaps so wonderfully well!

Here is how the soaps looked on display...

I was so thrilled, but as we sat....and sat....and sat, my heart began to sink! Traffic was so sporatic. The residents wandered by, little by little. The "big spenders" were all the employees of the facility. They all flocked to the table across from us, forking out their three bucks for the singing snowmen. By noon, the woman was sold out of her ss.....I sat, totally amazed, as this woman opened bag after bag of her Chinese wares, and folks just swooped it up.

This show lasted from 10 am to 4 pm. Michelle was such a trooper....minding the table as I left to go get some lunch, then once more, as I had to run an errand. She was totally at ease with people who came to the table, chatting with them and encouraging them to take a candy cane from the basket....

We sold a total of three bars of soap and one lotion. We spent six hours there, struggling to stay awake in the WARMTH of the building. We had to take turns walking about, chatting with the other vendors. I did manage to befriend the other soaper. He was very nice, and we spoke for quite some time. He has a store in the small town where this show took place. He also sells candles.

The bottom line is that as the show was coming to an end, it was evident we were not going to do very well! We took a little consolation in the fact that everyone was in the same boat, save the woman across from us. She made out well, selling much of her stuff totally out. The woman with the glassware was so disgusted, expressing that "junk" should not be allowed....ah well.........

One of our customers was a woman who looked as though she had wandered in from outside. She was beautifully dressed, and just had a very delightful look about her! Michelle spoke with her, and it became very evident that she was taken by Michelle....she chatted with her for some time. Suddenly, she picked up a bar of Lavender soap and purchased it!

As we were coming up on the close, a couple walked in front of the table...Could it BE? Why, YES, it was! There stood Annie and Sheldon, a couple I had not seen in YEARS! We had met them years and years ago at church. We visited, and it was just the highlight of this whole thing!

Bottom line, I got to visit with old friends and I also may have a new customer. My soap making friend was amazed when I told him my pricing on shea butter! You just never know....perhaps there will be more good from this little show, but the warm memories and meeting the dear people from this facility was great!

The Things We Do For Love....

Yesterday, I had a couple of minutes to fiddle around....nothing TOO important to do. So, I told Murphy we would have a little fun with the camera....note the expression "little fun".....I tried to explain that we need to get a good picture for the CyberScots card exchange. Murphy could care less.....First, I tied a pretty bow on his collar. Was Murphy impressed? I should say NOT!
So, I grabbed out the cute little reindeer ears I picked up at WalMart. Oh goodness? See those eyes? We call that "the look"!



Remember, my little Angus will sit up and wear a hula skirt for a cookie....the jury is totally out as to whether we will get a halfway decent picture for the cards! Murphy has SUCH Scottietude.

We had to take a ride to Rochester to pick up some supplies late yesterday afternoon. On the way back, Mark wanted to stop by a small floral shop across from the cemetary where his dad is. The store is so cool. It is a huge log "cabin" with a fireplace filling one of the end walls. They had really pretty wreaths so Mark had one custom made for his dad's grave. It was truly a labor of love, as I could see Mark thinking about his dad and fighting to keep the tears back. Christmas was his dad's favorite time of the year.......

Tomorrow is the little craft show I decided to do. I sure hope it does well. I worked liked crazy getting things reaydy today. I am still a bit behind, but we will see how it all works out!

Cannot Wait Til Friday!

Yes, I know...don't be wishing time away, right?

Well, every year, I sign up to exchange Christmas cards with my Scottie friends. This is always fun, as most people find cute little Scottie cards, and the cards usually begin arriving the first of December. What could be more fun than going to the mailbox and finding several cards from all over the US and Canada? (and even Europe?) Oh, this year there are about 60 people participating.

Every year, it seems I am faced with the same dilemma of late....that is, no SNOW! Since doing this exchange, I have always sent a picture of Angus in each card. I always try to make it a snow scene, as I LOVE the snow!

Today, we met my parents to get Benjamin back. We met at a McDonald's with a sign on the front that displays the time and current temperature. Somehow, the temperature of 67 just did not seem POSSIBLE! For heaven's sake, it is NOVEMBER! So.....where is my snow?

When we arrived home, I grabbed the laptop and headed to Weatherbug....the warm temps are supposed to continue through most of this week, then rather rapidly fall into the 30's on Friday. To make it even better, there is a 70% chance of snow! Now, I am hoping that this isn't going to be one of those wimpy melt-as-it-falls-to-the-ground type of snowfalls. If I could just get a decent amount to take a snow picture of the boys wearing their reindeer head thingies, I would be a happy camper!

My envelopes are addressed and ready to go. All I need to do is write in a Christmas greeting, then add a picture of the *boys* and I am off and running!

In between, I am going to do a very small show with my soaps and some Christmas ornaments on Wednesday. This was a rather "spur of the moment" deal. I received an invitation from a Senior Living community to this gift and accessory show on the 29th. It is only from 10 am until 4 pm, so I figured it would be a fun way to spend some time out and about. I do need to figure some packaging, make up a few little gift baskets, whip some shea butter, and make some lip balms. I did attend one show several years ago, but was totally unprepared. Even if I don't break any records at this one, it will be fun, to be sure. The small city where this is held is also invited, so it could be promising....

I think perhaps I will begin writing my greetings in those Christmas cards right now! My goal is to have them ready to send out shortly after the snow starts flying!

Somehow, I MUST Have Lost My Mind!

Sure, I hear you....she didn't have a *whole lot* going on before! Ah well....

Late Thanksgiving night, after my family had gone home and we were relaxing (it was such a great day, after all!) Mark made the comment that perhaps we should get up *early* and go shopping...did I HEAR that right?

We had gone shopping early one Friday morning many years ago. We went to Hills to grab a Tonka Truck for Ben for Christmas. We even stood in line to wait until the doors opened so we could grab our little treasure....In the end, that little truck was well worth every moment we stood in that line. Ben played with that truck for several years, often sitting atop and scooting about.....

And so, in a moment of total insanity (having lost all common sense and sensibility) I said I was game. The catch? Well, Mark had seen a laptop that was at a very good price at Office Max. AND, the doors were opening at 5 am. Mark assured me he would happily arise at 4....I decided I needed to be in bed by 11, so I grabbed my cell phone and set it for alarm at 4 am. By 11, I was in bed.....however, I was unable to sleep! I NEVER have trounle sleeping! Perhaps it was my Macy's Gift Card I earned with points from my business charge card....

At 4, I faithfully got up. Not wanting to rouse anyone too early, I awakened Mark and Michelle at about 4:15. We were off and on our way a little late, at about 4:30. We arrived at Office Max at exactly 5:08. Mark asked me to "rush in" and see if any of the laptops were left.

There was NO *rushing* this day! As I entered the store, I was alarmed to see people with hair in place, neatly dressed, casually shopping as though it was midday! I looked for the laptop, but couldn't find it. I asked a nice associate, and he directed me to the customer service desk. I waited for three people in front of me. While waiting, I spotted one box with the laptop, sitting on a pile. When the associate came forward, I asked, and he handed me the *last* one!

I hurried (hahaha) to the checkout, firmly grasping the box in my hand, braced to punch anyone who might try to grab this baby! I waited in line for what seemed like an eternity! Finally, the woman in front of me checked out, paying about $285 for three Kodak C433 cameras, three starter kits, and three 1 G cards for the cameras. I was impressed! As soon as I checked out (I must have been in there for 45 minutes!) I raced to the truck where Mark praised me and my successful trip!

We headed to the mall across the street, but somehow, I was just not in the mood to shop. I noticed that others had sales fliers in hand, diligently searching out specific items. I admire folks like that....I am so impulsive...I feel like a buckin' bronco when cornered with such meanial things like shopping lists! I like to kind of linger about, looking at everything. Of course, shopping trips where I can *graze* are getting fewer and fewer...seems I am always hurrying about anymore!

By the time we were finishing up, Carly called on the cell phone. It was her birthday, and I wanted to see her, but figured she was busy. As it was, her kids were at her hubby's parents' house....ahe had gotten up early as well, to buy a microwave at Lowe's. Her local store told her the black units were special order, although the ad clearly listed them as available. Mark told Carly if she wanted to meet at *our* Lowe's, he would talk with the manager to check out the situation.

We met, and Carly and Michelle ran into the store before Mark and me. By the time we were getting out of the truck, Michelle came out to tell us Carly was buying the model she wanted!
We looked around a bit, then headed to a local hamburger joint to grab some lunch.

By the time we arrived home, it was nearly time for the Buffalo Sabres game! I managed to stay somewhat coherant during the game, only *passing out* a couple of times. The game was a bit of a disappointment as Buffalo lost. The good news is that they are STILL number one! Yay!

After arising at 4 am two days in a row, I have decided that I would rather sleep in until a bit more of a respectable hour. After all 5 am *is* one hour later!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I haven't been able to post recently, as life seems to be moving so rapidly! Yikes!

Today was a great Thanksgiving...we celebrated here at home with my parents and brother traveling to our house. This made things easier for us, as we have been running so much lately. It was nice to kind of catch our breath and relax for a day!

Mark's mom had given us a certificate from a local market for a free turkey. (up to 20#!) We went to the store...I was really hoping to get an Empire turkey. These are kosher turkeys, and they are quite tasty. However, when I got to the store, they were sold out. The man at the meat counter said he bought a Marvel turkey last year and it was great. So, I left the store with a BIG almost 21# turkey.

After not being able to clean as I had wanted yesterday, I decided to just go to bed and get up early this morning to do the cooking. This proved to be a great idea! I got up at 4 am and took the dogs out. As soon as I was back inside, I began cooking. I made stuffing, sweet potatoes gratin, garlic mashed potatoes, acorn squash with butter, maple syrup, and cinnamon, and cranberry sauce. I did the stuffing first, then stuffed the turkey and got it ready to go into the oven. I put all of the other sides into the refrigerator while the turkey baked. As soon as the turkey was finished, all the sides went into the oven. While they baked, I kept the turkey covered in foil. I washed all the pots and pans as I worked, and the kitchen was looking pretty good!

When my family arrived, everything was pretty easy, and I actually got to sit down and visit with everyone. No frantic running around, or anything! I decided to eat early as opposed to waiting until late in the day. We sat down to eat at about 12:30, and this proved to work quite well. I washed most of the dishes afterward, then we watched the movie RV with Robin Williams. It is funny...I don't really enjoy sitting and watching TV, but this movie is so funny, I nearly laugh myself onto the floor! Each time I see it, I see or hear something I missed before.

My family left shortly after 5, and Ben went with them to visit for a bit.

This was one of the easiest, most relaxing Thanksgivings I have experienced in a long time. I guess one thing is that the older I get, the more I realize that the world isn't going to stop if I forget something! I DID forget two things....I forgot to make a salad, and I also forgot to get the acorn squash out of the oven! Ah well, everything was good, it went smoothly (even though I didn't have a roaster that was really big enough for that big turkey) and I actually enjoyed relaxing and there was more than enough food on the table...no one left missing anything, nor were they hungry!

As I think about this holiday, I cannot help but be thankful for the rich blessings that have been so lavishly poured out on us. Sometimes life gets us to the point that we feel beaten up, and even spent, but on a day of reflection and giving thanks, we come to the stark conclusion that we have so much more than we can even use....we are so very, very blessed!

And, may you be blessed with love, health, and happiness this day and many, many more to come!

Happy Thanksgiving!

It's a Dog's Life.....

Poor Angus. Poor Murphy. Why do they feel so sad? Well, let me give you a hint.....
Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...............................Nope, not a bee. But, clippers!!!

Unfortunately, one of the "downsides" of owning Scotties is that they need frequent maintenance in the *coat* department. Scotties have two coats. The outer layer is less thick than the inner layer. If left on its own, this coat is very coarse. The inner coat is more like goose down...kind of insulating and very thick.

I generally groom the boys every month. This is to help them not to freak every time they hear the clippers. Angus doesn't like the clippers at ALL, and Murphy is more or less "tolerant". If you merely make a "bzzz" noise, Angus hightails it away. He refuses to be consoled, and clipping him is similar to a "greased pig" contest!

Last night, I began grooming Murphy. I was a little tired and Michelle came into the room and asked if she could finish. I REALLY need a grooming table. I get down on the hardwood floor and clip away. This was fine when I was more flexible and could SEE better! Now, I feel like I am being punished sitting there! When I get up, I feel like the tin man!!!! So, I gladly turned the clippers over to Michelle, and I helped her along.

Tonight, Michelle decided she would go after Angus. Oh BOY, did she NOT know what she was going for!!! Angus was relatively good for her, but he decided when he had enough!

Angus will allow the clippers on his body, shoulders, chest...but do NOT touch his HEAD with them. Do you have any idea how LONG it takes to get that "scottie look"using a pair of scissors? Ugh....

Now, just because Murphy is younger does NOT mean he is a fool!!! Look, he retreated to a safe place where no one could find him.....

Ha, ha! Little Murphy....I got down on all fours and peeked inside the tent with my camera! (I love the way that camera can shoot in what is the lowest of light!) Oh, and the reason I was taking pictures of Murphy instead of Angus was because Michelle (very kindly) asked me to l-e-a-v-e with my camera.....poor sport, eh?

Well, Angus had his dose of "primping", so I told Michelle to just let him go. We will finish tomorrow. In the meantime, she took Angus down the hall and put him into the bathroom. She was going to bathe him, but decided not to, as he is "unfinished". Instead, she vaccumed him!

So, as Angus headed into the bathroom, what did Murphy do?

Yup, he came out of the "pup tent" and decided to stretch out on the big plump doggie bed! In this picture, you can see how nicely Murphy turned out after Michelle's grooming!

Now, for those of you with dogs, you cannot IMAGINE the fun of trimming toenails! Murphy HATES, hates, hates getting nails trimmed. When he was still a very small youngster, he would snarl and nip at me...actually, I think he was going for the clippers...not me. Anyway, I got out a muzzle and told him we were going to put on a little "mask." Now, when we clip, I always get out the "mask" and he gets excited. Kind of funny. Angus used to give me such a HARD time. By the time we were done, we were both so tired, we SLEPT! Since getting Murphy, Angus now allows me to trim his nails without trouble.

Bottom line, these Scotties are sure a lot of work, but I cannot imagine life without them. They give far far more than they take!

What a Long Day...or, Was it Night?

Yesterday, we covered a lot of ground. We had basically winterized our camper, except we needed to empty our greywater and blackwater tanks. We discovered that a nearby (yeah, right....about 30 miles away!) town has an RV dump station located at their wastewater treatment plant. We decided to hitch up with the new truck and take the camper out to dump the tanks. We fiddled around a little...we needed to adjust the hitch a bit. Of course, the weather decided to really get rotten as we worked, with raindrops falling on more than our heads!

We finally were on our way! We drove to the town, and looked where we thought we were supposed to "dump". Hmmmm.....all we could find was a manhole cover located in the center of a small road. Was this the "dump station"? I thought about what I had read on the internet, and told Mark I thought it was correct. We needed to lift a manhole cover!

In the midst of this, just imagine a new factory being built, with cement trucks and dump trucks traversing this narrow little road! There was a mailbox located on the side of the road directly across from the manhole cover, so we looked inside, thinking *perhaps* we might discover a clue? And, yes, we did! We found a little metal rod to use to pull the manhole cover aside.

Ben was my faithful assistant. YIKES! We managed to pull the cover sideways, so as to "crack" the cover just a bit. What we saw below our feet was not for the faint of heart! Roaring under us was a vast river of waste....yes, SEWAGE! BLECH!!!! I quickly drained the tanks and we headed towards home again.

When Mark began to back the camper up into its little niche, he realized that doing it with the new truck was totally different. It took nearly 45 minutes to get the little camper placed in its winter home.

As soon as this was finally accomplished, we were off on a long journey to Erie, Pennsylvania. The kids had signed up to attend a night of fun at an indoor water park called Splash Lagoon!
The fun was set to begin at 11 pm. Yup, that is 11 at NIGHT! And, the activities eneded at 3 am.

We stopped and visited with my parents before going off to Erie. We visited with them until nearly 10, then left for Splash Lagoon. We arrived in Erie in good time, and the kids were so excited....especially Ben.

After making sure they were safely inside, Mark and I went inside and watched for a bit...WOW! It felt like it was about a zillion degrees in there! We watched for quite a while, then after seeing the kids (and they TOTALLY ignored us!!!) we went to the gift shop to buy some little souvenirs, and then we went to the truck. I was tired and slept from about 1-3. When the kids came out, we drove down the road a bit, and finding a safe place, we "camped out", sleeping in the truck until the daylight broke. Michelle and I slept in the back of the truck on the new Bedrug, with a sleeping bag over it, and covered with a king size down comforter. Amazing how warm and toasty we were, considering the temps were about 40 during the night! Murphy slept with us, and I awakened to a little Scottie sleeping on my back!

The kids slept a bit more as we fiddled around. Then we headed out, going back to visit my parents again. We visited, then headed home. We got home just before sunset, and it was great to be home, but the house was only about 58 inside! I made a fire in the stove, and ah, life is feeling so good about now! The bed hasn't looked so enticing in a long time, and oh my...I forgot what it is like to nearly miss an entire night of sleep!

The good news is that the kids had a ball, and it really wasn't that bad. They are beside themselves....Family Life Ministries is planning a REPEAT of this in March!

In Loving Memory.....

Of my father-in-law, Albert Catalano. No, it isn't his birthday, or anything like that, but as I sat in the living room surrounded by the early morning darkness, I thought about him....

With the holidays coming up, I guess it is natural to think about my father-in-law, because his family was so very important to him. Mark said as he was growing up, his dad always attended his hockey games. Al was always there...for support, advice, you name it! Even when Mark was all grown up, he spoke with his dad by telephone nearly every day, seeking advice and just enjoying his company.

When we got little Angus, my father-in-law fell in love with him right away! In 2003, Al spent time in a nursing home recovering from a surgery. The home had a special picnic in early summer, and he invited the family to attend! Mark and the kids took Angus and BOY was that Scottie dog a HIT! My father-in-law placed Angus on his scooter and proudly took him around to show the residents!

That same year, Al was home again in time for Thanksgiving. So, we had Thanksgiving at his beautiful apartment. I was a little concerned, as we were watching Angus' mother while her family went to visit relatives for the holiday. Al wasn't the least bit concerned about having two dogs.....bring them both, he said!

And, we did! Michelle crafted a little headpiece for Sadie to wear, and we giggled and laughed as my father-in-law invited "Pochahontus" and Angus to the dinner table.

As we gather around the Thanksgiving table this year, may we hold those who surround us close to our hearts and lives. We have all been admonished to do this, but on that Thanksgiving in 2003, we never would have believed that in January 2005, Al would leave this world behind. We sure do miss him....