Monday This and That

Good New Year's Eve morning.  Tomorrow begins a new year. It's going to be a warm Eve, but  a wet one.  Never had any desire to stand out there and watch the ball drop.  And gave up resolutions a long time ago.  Lots of plans here, but no resolutions which I see as goals.  When one doesn't reach a goal, we tend to feel as if we have failed.  On the other hand, plans are made to be changed.  The important thing is that we move with the flow.  That's just the way I look at it.

On Saturday we finally had our Christmas....two Christmases in one--last year and this year combined.  If we lived closer to each other we could see each other more often.  We had such an awesome time, and I got some really nice gifts.

 My son's girlfriend got me this little Kindness doll from Willow Tree.

This is from my granddaughter and her husband.  It is so soft and warm and snuggly. My other granddaughter gave me a little charm bracelet that didn't come out too well in a picture no matter how hard I tried.  It's filled with little Christmas charms.

My daughter gave me this Bonsai tree kit.

I'm going to do my best, but I have never been very good growing from seeds.

This necklace is so gorgeous.  A gift from my daughter.

My grandson gave me a $25 gift card which I immediately spent purchasing a book I'd wanted on Amazon.  "2019:  Your Most Magical Year Yet" by Tess Whitehurst.  A planner which includes:  (from Amazon site)

• moon signs 
• astrological information such as Mercury retrograde periods
• goal writing inspiration
• magical holidays
• spells and rituals
• random act of kindness challenges
• journaling prompts
• coloring pages
• flowers and gemstones aligned with each month
• plus plenty of room for your daily tasks and goals

My son's girlfriend was there, and I made this meatless Italian pasta salad.

Tri-colored spirals, corn, brocolli tips, olives, tri-colored tomatoes, red pepper, green pepper, parsley, red onion, and low fat Italian salad dressing.  It turned out so good.

All my great grandchildren.

So tonight I am just going to hang out here with hubby.  We'll probably both take naps.  Hopefully one of us wakes up in time to wake the other up and welcome in the new year.  We've never missed one, well almost did a few years back, but I woke up in time for us to have a groggy toast.  Tomorrow I'm going to make a pernil and arroz gondules.  And have another day of rest.   And that's about it.  Time to slow down now. 

Wishing you all a safe and Happy New Year.  See you in 2019.

Sunday Selections

Two Christmases in one.  Finally able to get the family all together.  Wonderful evening.  

 My granddaughter, great granddaughter, and my son.

 My son and newest great granddaughter.  Boy, was she heavy.

 Family portrait.

 Great grandchildren sitting down for a bite to eat.

 Plenty of food.  That macaroni and cheese was scrumptious.

 My granddaughter is a wonderful cook.

 My son in law, daughter, and son.

 My daughter and I.

 My 7th great granddaughter.

 Two Christmases in one.

Saturday Thought

Soon we will have completed our annual list of good intentions. Across the country there are millions of cigarettes waiting to be stomped out, tons of fat waiting to be lost, miles to be run, lives to be organized, selves to be improved.

Once again, we will pass resolutions as if we were our own Congress, legislating changes in our lives. On a million scraps of paper, we will publish an updated catalog of promises to be filed on the shelf of the self....

But I have a feeling that our resolutions have more to do with controlling our lives than enriching them....

We spend Jan. 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a punch list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. We decide that it's time to get a painful grip on ourselves....

But life improvement is not just a matter of discipline, self-control. It's a matter of expansion, the deliberate pursuit of happiness....

We ought to walk through the rooms of our lives a second time, not looking for the flaws, but for potential.

Ellen Goodman, The Boston Globe, December 1982

Friday Roundup.

Oh what a fantastic week it was.  Had a wonderful Christmas Eve.  Only 4 of us.  Hubby, my son, his girlfriend, and myself, but who needs a crowd?  Big family get-togethers are nice, and we will be having one tomorrow in New Jersey, but I don't really have the room for it here.  Jerry gave me an Amazon Fire Stick, and now I don't have to wait to see my Golden Girls.  I can watch them any time I want.  Also got a few much needed sweaters for warmth, and two pairs of Reeboks--one black and one gray.  I wasn't expecting them so I had just bought myself a pair of Adidas and Sketchers.  Will definitely be going back to class dressed in style.

Too bad Christmas morning didn't start out as well. I put a cup of water in the microwave for my tea and when I took it out, it slipped from my hand and some of the scalding water hit my foot. I quickly took the soaking slipper off and stepped onto the cold floor, then put burn cream on. Fortunately, it's only a small part of the side of my foot effected and not that bad at all. I could have been much, much worse. A burn cream we got from the Dominican Republic a few years back took care of that.  I think I was more frustrated that I had just waxed the kitchen floor the day before, and here it was covered in water.

After cleaning up the mess and tending to my wound, I watched "A Christmas Story" a couple of times before switching to Hulu and watching about 4 episodes of "The Handmaid's Tale".  I know, not the most jolly way to spend Christmas, but I was hooked.  Turned the Fire Stick over to hubby in the afternoon while I did a bit of reading.  Had leftovers for dinner and ended the day watching "A Christmas Story.".  

Wednesday I went to do the banking and shopped a little for myself with money hubby gave me.  I lost my black sweater during the renovation, and I really needed to replace it.  Found one.  Not the same one, but it's black and it's a sweater. 

Later that evening I was sitting at my computer and my battery operated candles started coming on one by one, all 4 of them...all by themselves.  Weirdest thing.  They don't have timers and the top has to be twisted to put them on and off.  Even hubby took notice of it.  

But other things have been happening lately as well.  I was peeling potatoes not too long ago and having a rough time of it.  I wished I had a potato peeler.  Then, my friend sends me a Christmas gift and when I open it, I find a paring knife and potato peeler set.   Another day I was thinking about my niece who unfriended me on FB awhile ago and how we were family and it shouldn't be that way.  Then, I get a friend request from her. 

Thursday was my WW workshop.  They were having a funeral at my church...either a police officer or a fireman.  I didn't recognize the dress uniforms, and they also had three men dressed in kilts practicing on their bagpipes.

Today was my follow up doctor's appointment, but I postpone it until next Friday.  The weather today is going to be very bad, lots of wind and rain, and I can't see myself walking the 5 blocks in it with my fingers locking around an umbrella or paying $7 for a cab. So, next week it will be.

Tomorrow is our Christmas with family.  Two Christmases in one since we didn't have one last year.  Can't wait.  Will be sure to get lots of pictures.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Thursday Odds and Ends

Christmas feast.  No wonder I got all bloated.  Not used to this much eating in one night.  Actually had to sit up awhile to digest despite how tired I was.

Baked ziti.  Kept enough for one day of leftovers and sent the rest away.

Meatballs and sausages.  Don't separately because my son's girlfriend is vegetarian.

Oh, I can't tell you how yummy this is.  Salty and sweet.  Nuts, chocolate covered peanuts, nonpareils, candy covered almonds, raisins. Santa's Trail mix from Figi's.  What an awesome trail mix!  This was a big hit.  (Confession.  I was hitting it two days before Christmas Eve).

Creamy cake roll.  My goodness.  Melts in your mouth.

My favorite.  Tiramisu.  Must have this every year.

The fudge was also quite a hit.  Proud that I chose not to partake in it.  Actually, truth be told, I was already too bloated.  Chocolate and chocolate mint fudge

Maple Walnut fudge.  My favorite.  Sent all the fudge home with my son.  No temptations left around.

Hubby's shrimp.  I always make it for him and leave him to munch on it when we go to church.

This was half eaten before I got a picture of it.  I swear by Figi's every Christmas.  Never been disappointed.

Buffalo wings.  So hot and yummy.

My secret sauce.  They tried like heck to get the recipe from me.  Still remains a secret though.

Is it any wonder why I'm not getting on the scale today?

Wordless Wednesday: Holiday Splendor, Christmas Eve in the Church Yard

Merry Christmas

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Monday This and That

Good morning everyone.  Hard to believe that Christmas Eve has arrived, and the holidays will be over before we know it.  Already getting that let down feeling I get every year, but i'm going to start the new year out right.  Going back to my classes and hoping to dance again.  

I was going to do my food shopping for the holiday yesterday, but something told me to do it on Saturday instead.  Good thing I did.  Sunday shopping was cutting it too short, and what if they were very busy and couldn't deliver until late afternoon. My secret sauce is best when it sits for a day.  Good thing I did go on Saturday. The boxes for delivery were lined up, and I probably wouldn't have gotten much done if I'd waited.  No telling what time my food would arrive.  

On Saturday my replacement fudge arrived.  Figi's was true to it's word.  It even arrived sooner than I thought it would.  

I also got my first house plant box.  I chose the Succulent Box since they are the easiest to care for.  Each month I will receive a unique succulent, cacti, or aloe plant along with a detailed description and a care guide. Sunday I got up early and headed off to church, then headed back home and started cooking.

This month I received an Echeveria from Central American.  USPS messed up on this one, too.  It was supposed to arrive on the 17th but they had it floating all over the place.  The company said they would send a replacement if it was damaged, but I think it looks good.

Yesterday I made a huge dent in the food I have to prepare today.

 Buffalo wings.  This year they are pretty darn hot. 

My secret sauce.  There is one special ingredient no one else knows I put in there. This is my heavy-hitter sauce.

 Meatballs and separately.  Not put in the sauce because my son's girlfriend doesn't eat meat.

Today all I have to do is cut up the cheese and pepperoni tray,  get the cakes out, make hubby's shrimp, and straighten up the house a bit.  At 6 I'm heading off to church.  

Have a wonderful holiday.

Sunday Selections

The other day I received my last Soulshine Mini Crate Box.  I sure am going to miss this subscription and hope that one day in the future she opens up shop again.  I was only a member for about 4 months, but after the first one I was hooked.  Each one was better than the one before, and this last one, well, judge for yourself.  Keep in mind, all this for $14.95.

I'm going to miss this sunny face every month.

Oh, can't wait to unwrap.

Yummy Christmas chocolates.

Himalayan Rock Salt in a tiny glass bottle.  Absorbs negative energy and purifies.  Keep in purse, hang in your bedroom or living room.  Natural leather cord for hanging or necklace.

Green Goldstone.  This stone deflects bad energies.  Said to support the heart both physically and emotionally.

Ametrine.  For balancing the body, mind, and soul.  Heals health issues and balances emotions.  Protects and opens the intuition.

 Chyrsocolla is very calming, balancing, clarifying and purifying, empowering, and  healing; it encourages renewal, new beginnings, love, and strength. It also opens the throat chakra, which boosts clear communication and self-expression by drawing negativity from the body. Whatever challenge you're facing, this stone calms emotions enabling you to  heal and move on with your life instead of dwelling on the past.

 Red garnets. Very grounding stone. Helps with arthritis.  (much needed).  Helps boost the filtering function of the kidneys.(also much needed).  Stimulates the life force, boosts sexuality, stamina, passion, endurance.

I am pretty sure the green part of it is Bayberry.  Not quite sure about the red.  It sure does smell good, though. 

Silver goddess holding a pearl earrings.  They are so pretty. 

Atrae Dinero Incense Cones and fairy incense cone burner.  Three fairies dance across the surface.   Attracts money.

Saturday Thought

When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things — not the great occasions — give off the greatest glow of happiness. 

Bob Hope

Friday Roundup

Solstice greetings.  Happy Yule.  It's a nasty rainy day here in Brooklyn.  A good day to stay in, light the tree, some scented candles and just take it easy. 

Been an up and down week here.  Was not up to par on Monday so I stayed in again.  On Tuesday I ran a few errands--put money on my fare card and picked up some fruit at the market--after getting my hair cut.  When I can't style without blow drying I know it is time to cut.  I'm terrible with a blow dryer.  One side will come out nice, the other all messed up.  Nope.  For me, wash and wear is the way to go.

Wednesday was another quiet one.   Stayed in to wait for a package that was supposed to be delivered on Monday.  Another mess up where they tried to say I wasn't home.  Speaking of packages.  Every Christmas I order from Figi's.  This year I added a few kinds of fudge to my order.  Now, I am almost positive that USPS delivery guys know Figi's by now, and know that it is food items that they are delivering, so why did whoever delivered my fudge leave it sitting out on a hot radiator in the lobby. It's all hot and melted. Don't even know if it will be good anymore...and Figi's is expensive. That's about $30 worth of fudge. How stupid can someone be?

Fiji's was very good about it though.  In no way did I blame them, but they took full responsibility and not only reimbursed me, but sent out a new order by express mail so I have it in time for Christmas.  That's a company I will continue doing business with.  They stand by their product and their customers.  

Wednesday Advent Calendar gift.

Orgonite is a substance made of resin, metals and quartz that are used for healing and creating a balanced and positively energized environment. They can be a great tool for meditation and enhance your spiritual growth.  Mine is made of Rose quartz,   the crystal of unconditional love, a powerful yet gentle heart chakra healer, bringing deep inner healing and fostering self-love. 

Thursday Advent gift

Satin Spar Selenite--TV Rock.  This is a type of selenite made of parallel crystal fibers that allow light to pass through.  When you place a TV Rock on top of an image, it magnifies it, and brings the image through the rock to the surface.

So I t ried it out by placing it on the little metal box I received a few days ago.

And this was the result.  Awesome.

Went to my WW workshop on Wednesday.  Didn't really feel like it, but I had two packages left to deliver.  My sleep has been badly disrupted lately, and I can't pinpoint what is going on.  Went to bed at 10 pm and lay awake tossing and turning until 4:30 in the morning.  Then got up at 6:30.  Not healthy to get such little sleep and so far nothing has worked to help me.  Tried Sleepy Time Tea, Lavender and Chamomile tea, reading, etc.  Nothing. 

Friday Advent gift

Crystal Moon Oil Bottle.  This beautiful moon pendant contains a tiny chamber that can fit a few drops of a favorite oil.

And that's the end of this year's Advent calendar.  Can't wait til next year.  

Wishing you all a happy Yule.