Merry Christmas

I want everyone in blog world to have a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year!  I have enjoyed following you all this year.

And as you can see, I have NOT given up on the idea of Corgi ownership.  I mentioned it again to my husband just last night.  They are hard to find around here, so maybe by the time I find one, he will be ready and receptive to the idea.

We got some sad news on Saturday.  Troy's friend Lee called to inform us that little Pebbles, Troy's sister Lori's little Yorkie passed away on Friday, December 17th.  She was about 15 years old and Lee had been taking care of her since Lori passed away in April of 2006.  Lori's birthday was on December 12th so I imagine that she had a happy reunion with her baby.  Pebbles was a good dog and stuck by her mommy the whole time Lori was sick.  Lee took good care of Pebbles during her passing - just like he did for Lori, his fiancee.

Too proud for words

Naval Officer Chad,

Your Uncle Troy and Aunt Ellen are so very proud of you!  Hard to believe that this is the little boy who built a snow fort with his uncle and counsin Tyler - not so many years ago.  And thank you for your service to your country!

Blessed Season

I have all the decorating done, a few more presents to buy, and all of what I have bought is wrapped and under the tree.  Now on to the cookie baking and fudge making.  Snow this past weekend gave me the excuse I needed to stay in and get things done.  And now the true reason for the season, lest we forget....

Even we mothers cannot even begin to understand what our Blessed Mother must have felt on that Christmas Eve so many years ago.  And over 2,000 years later, our Savior is still with us all!

I can hardly wait...

I usually put the Christmas decorations up the weekend after Thanksgiving.  This year it is hard to wait and I find myself thinking "Well maybe just a few things now....".  I will probably have Troy bring everything down from the attic this weekend.  Maybe that will tie me over.  I only put one tree up (in the family room) last year, but this year I am putting two up - one in the living room and one in the family room.  Maybe even a small one out on the closed in back porch with a timer.

Family room tree from last year... (date was wrong on my camera - I hate that thing)

Living room tree from a couple of years ago....  (date is correct - will wonders ever cease?)

Oh and of course it is time for Red Velvet Cake....

For the love of a horse...

Well, my love ran out of time or track, however you want to look at it.  But she ran her heart out and came back safe, and for that I am thankful. 

I noticed that she did not do her little dance after this race.  Maybe she knew she lost or maybe it was just the fact that she did not go to the winner's circle for the first time. 

But Zenyatta, we all still love you and thank you for all you have given us.  Now, go have some big beautiful babies for us to love, too.
And hopefully they will give us that little dance step just like their Momma.

Breeders Cup

This weekend is the Breeders Cup.  My money is on Zenyatta - undefeated and top female athelete.  I just like her attitude.  She loves to run, is a big horse, and she does a little dance going to the post and to the winner's circle.

Her stride is the same as Secretariat - my all time favorite.  She is a beautiful racehorse.  Good luck Zenyatta!

A couple of weeks ago (Friday, October 22nd to be exact) I got up and went to the track here at 6:00 AM and watched morning workouts.  It was before the last weekend of thoroughbred racing here.  I was the only spectator there.  It was cold and dark (but the track was lit up), it was quiet - save for the pounding of the hooves and the breathing and snorting of the horses. I was right on the rail, and I loved it.  It is my absolute favorite time to be at the track.  And as each exercise rider walked their horses past me back to the barn, they said "Good morning mam" or "Good morning miss" (god bless those who said that).  Many thanks to those guys and gals (riders and horses) for giving me a great time - even if you didn't mean to. 

Just being nostalgic...

Recently I bought a few of the vintage reproduction Barbies as well as a couple of books on the subject.  One book shows Barbie and her clothes through the years.  The others tell how Barbie influenced us through the years (it is amazing the problems people blame on that little doll!). It is pretty interesting how Barbie changed along with us.  Barbie celebrated 50 years in 2009 - hard to believe as I still remember my first one (probably in 1960, the year after she came out) and the outfits that I had.  One Christmas soon after, I received a wedding dress (not Mattel but one that someone had hand made) from my maternal grandparents while celebrating Christmas at their house.  In all of the commotion, the dress got mixed in with the discarded wrapping paper.  Now, my grandfather was never one to let paper lay on the floor for very long - not when he had a roaring fire in the fireplace.  So in went the dress.  Funny the things you remember from childhood....

Some inside pictures...

Josh's bedroom/guest room........

Living room.........

Enclosed porch.........

                                  
Master bedroom...........

I still love country and besides that little fact, I have so much of it that was either given to me or holds so many memories, I just do not have the heart to change.  However, I do love getting on other blogs and seeing other's decorating, and I love them all.

Our house

This is the only current pic I have of our house.  As you can see, it is sorely lacking in landscaping.  Every summer I think we will start on it, and well this year with the economy in the tank I cannot justify spending the money.  But next year if it is better - watch out.  Dirt flying, holes dug, and trees, bushes and plants in the ground.  Lucky for us, my step-son Tyler is in the landscaping business and is always so willing to help out.  And of course we will pay him because the economy has hit him hard, too.  And also because he is just a great guy and does good work!  And we love him dearest!

October is PINK...

All my sisters out there - please remember that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month - and that early detection is the best cure that we have.

Some pictures of my fur-baby

Rosko just will not co-operate with me when I am trying to get a good picture of him.  Always moving up into the camera and will never strike a pose for me.  I see all these other pictures of someone's cat and think "Why can't I ever get a good picture like that?"  Oh well - he could be a dog!  And well, we all know how dogs are.  And besides that - I love him because he is after all a cat!

My dear Hungarian friends

My friends Erika and Gyongyi were here from California over the weekend to attend their St. Mary's alumni event and they came over for dinner on Sunday.  I haven't seen Gyongyi in 3 years (in March of 2007 she was back home retracing her arrival in America and celebrating 50 years since that arrival)  and I haven't seen Erika since I was about 8 years old.  I was thrilled to be able to get together with them and talk about the old days.  And I was sad to see them leave.

Then.....              (Erika is second from left, Gyongyi is in back, and that is me on the right)

And now!  I am so blessed that God found a way to reunite us after all of these years.  Two very sweet and special ladies.  They came to America as children a little over fifty years ago, their parents seeking a better life.  They became Americans!  They know first hand how blessed we are as a nation and the pain and grief that socialism brings, and we would all do well to remember that, also!

Joelle and Chris

Tomorrow, September 17th is Joelle and Chris's 5 year anniversary.  Chris passed away on May 8, 2007, not even 2 years after they got married.  But today is their anniversary none the less. 

Constitution Day

Friday, September 17th is Constitution Day!  Read it and know it.  It is not the Bill of Rights - it is the master plan for our republic, our government.  It was written by our founding fathers to protect us from our own government by limiting what the government can do.  It is more important today than it ever has been.   

Let us never forget......

September 11th is a Day of Remembrance for me - not a day of service.  If the President wants a day of service - let it be September 12th.  But not September 11th - not now - not ever.  We should be able to set aside this one day to remember the loss of 2,752 souls on that day.

When I lived in New Jersey, before I moved back to Indiana, I was to take a job at the World Trade Towers.  I cannot even imagine what those people went through - and I have my own doubts as to whether I could have survived it myself.  My only hope is that all had the peace of God with them on that day.

Camper sold

Well we finally sold our camper at Kamp Modoc - close on it tomorrow!  Hated to do it but the economy has hit us as hard as everyone else and we just could no longer justify the expense.  We sold it to a young couple with two small boys - hope they enjoy it as much as we have over the past nine years.  They got a nice camper (we took very good care of it as we do with all of our things) at a good price.  We are hoping that in a couple of years we can buy a smaller camper that we can tow around and go to different places.  Who knows Holly, we might even park it in your backyard at Fripp Island.  That would be a hoot!

25 Years

Tomorrow, September 9th marks my 25th anniversary as an employee of the State of Indiana.  Twenty five years and three agencies later, I hope I can make it to retirement.  These days - who knows.

Happy Birthday Rosko - Yogi Kitty

Sunday was Rosko's birthday - well not really - we don't know the exact day but September 5th was the day we got him in 2004.  He was a year old when we got him so he was born in 2003 making him 7 years old.  He is the sweetest cat, as most Ragdolls are.  He knows that Oskar (Boo Boo Kitty) is gone.  I don't think that he is mourning, but he knows things are different.  No one to fight with, most likely.  And since he doesn't have to share food, he is getting fat, too.  That could be the Pounce treats we have been giving him out of guilt.  Here he is with his Daddy doing what he likes best - being carried around.  This picture was taken at the old house.

Happy Birthday Kay

Today is my mother in law's birthday!  Here she is on the right with my sister in law Holly at their favorite place - Fripp Island.  And she is there now - even with the hurricane on it's way.  Be safe, Kay!

Happy Birthday Tyler

Today is my step son Tyler's birthday

RIP Oskar 5/28/2001 - 8/25/2010

I had to have my Boo Boo Kitty put down and he died this morning - exactly nine years and one day from the day that we got him (same day that my 18 year old kitty Ozzie was put down).  I miss him so much!  See you in Heaven little kitty and please don't be mad at me.  We will always love you.

August 15, 2010

Yesterday was the one year anniversary of the passing of my father.  Miss you Daddy. 

Oh Danny Boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling........

Happy Anniversary

Happy four year anniversary to Chad and Becky (our niece and nephew).  Your Uncle Troy and I are so proud of you two.  Chad is getting ready to go back into the service and Becky works and is a great military wife.  She makes many sacrifices for our country also, as do all military spouses and familys.  Love to you both today and so glad you get to celebrate it together - unlike other years in the past.  It is a special treat to have you both in Indiana for a little while.

Today marks...

Today marks many things.  Today would have been my Dad's 83rd birthday.  Happy Birthday in Heaven, Daddy.  Miss you and Mom so much - especially on my own birthday.  Today marks the one year anniversary of the passing of one of my Hungarian mothers (Edith Szekely) and today is my good friend Becky's birthday. Happy Birthday Becky - you old hag.  LOL

3 years today

We closed on our house three years ago today.  This is the before picture.  I will post a current picture when I get around to it.  While we have done alot of work - we still have alot to do.  Outside, mainly landscaping.  Maybe this fall we can start?

Fallen Tree

"If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?"