Happy Christmas

It is Christmas Eve, 2010 and we had the pleasure of entertaining our children, grandchildren and friends this morning. We had a wonderful breakfast, a meat lovers feast, with 3 lbs of bacon and a ham steak to go along with scrambled eggs and biscuits and sausage gravy. Yummo!

The boys were so patient and well behaved as we waited until all of us were through eating before we did the gift exchanges.  I played Santa this year, handing out the gifts to all. Mason was my little helper. "Here Papa, this one's for you."
Spiderman bikes and Lightning McQueen helmets were the big hit! Mason took right to it, but little Braydon's legs weren't quite long enough to make the full rotation. A little help from Jeremy was all he needed. They should have a good nap today.
It was a good year, and we are so excited for new things, good things, to happen in 2011. Merry Christmas all, I hope your Christmas is as happy as mine.

Dear Santa, I've been a good boy.

Last night we went straight from daycare to the mall to see Santa. Oh my! What a wonderful night for Gigi and Papa. We discovered that it was pet night with Santa, so the line was already long with people and their pets waiting to see him. My boys both love animals, so it was a welcome distraction and made our wait pleasant. Braydon discovered that dogs have peepee's too and announced that to one of the ladies holding her male dachsund. She and I giggled. Mason told Santa he wanted him to bring Gigi a new ring (that's my boy) and asked for a "Thpider Man" toy for himself. On our way home, we drove through neighborhoods looking for Christmas lights which immediately became a contest on who had the most on their side of the car. Hmmm, I seem to remember the same contest between their mama and her brother when they were small. Some things never change. Merry Christmas to all of my sweet family and friends!

Dottie

This is Dottie. I got to meet her on our Thanksgiving trip to NC. Terri and John rescued her from a shelter, and she is so incredibly precious! Sweet personality, adorable face, and already knows she is loved by her new family. I am a strong proponent of rescuing animals. I'm not really sure why more people don't do that versus buying from breeders. This little sweet girl is a year and a half old and was turned in by her owner. No one knows why, but she is so loving and obedient, it's hard to imagine why anyone wouldn't want her. But that is their loss and Terri and John's gain. I am so glad I got to meet her.
Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends. I am grateful for all of you.

Too soon? nahhhh

It's November 18 and my house has been decorated for Christmas since November 3rd. Some people laugh at that but since I am never home for Thanksgiving, I kind of skip over it and jump right into Christmas. We go to NC to visit my best friend Terri and her husband John and sometimes it's actually snowing there on our visit. A bizarre concept to a native Floridian who is used to sweating not only on Thanksgiving day but also on Christmas day and New Years day and pretty much every holiday that comes to mind. Last year I completely changed my ornaments after collecting them for over 30 years. I had an eclectic collection but was inspired to go with glass ornaments that are all red and white and some silver. It is so beautiful and makes me smile when I come into the living room. I love this time of year. The magic of family gatherings and all the hustle bustle, and somehow the world seems a little kinder and gentler. I hope you enjoy the holidays too. Merry Christmas.

Karol

What's not to love about a 3 year old?

My daughter and I exchanged IM's recently about her oldest son who is 3 1/2. The change is so dramatic between 3 and 4, they learn so much and start seeing the world as a place that doesn't so much revolve around them anymore. Mason is no exception. He is observant and opinionated like his mother (and grandmother). We were discussing how grown up he is and how he has discovered Santa. She asked him and his little brother to tell her what they wanted Santa to bring them, and sat down to write a letter for them. Mason grabbed a pad of paper and a pen, and proceeded to ask mama what she wanted so he could write to Santa too. An "awww" moment in a Gigi's life that keeps me going and makes me smile. Here is the content of another IM that made me smile (pardon me for sharing this, Kristi, with the cyber world without discussing it with you first)

"i was getting ready for work Wednesday and had a skirt on. He turned around from watching his Spiderman cartoon and eyes-wide said "Mama you look SO pretty. You look so PRETTY, Mama!" :) And then he ruined it by looking at my heels and saying "I have shoes like those, too!" hee hee"

Seriously, does it get any better than that? I don't think so. God love you, little Mason. You make me laugh out loud. And God love you too Kristi, for sharing with me.

Mandarin Craft Festival October 16, 2010

One day show, lots of work and preparation, but we had so much fun and were very successful! Here are some pictures of our booth. Come see us at our next show at the Moroccan Shrine Temple on Nov 21 & 22.

15 Things you may not know about me

1. I don't have a "bucket list". I'm happy to have survived some of the stupid things I've already done in my life.
2. When I get dressed, I put on a sock and a shoe and a sock and a shoe. Not a sock and a sock and a shoe and a shoe. Can't do it any other way.
3. I have discovered that I count things subconsciously, like when I walk up stairs, I count the steps. That's not too psycho.
4. I really don't like people who don't know the rules of the road AND INSIST ON BEING IN FRONT OF ME OR ON MY BUTT, oh sorry, it gets my hair on fire thinking about it.
5. I am one collection short of being on my own A&E "Hoarders" show.
6. "Amazing Grace" on bagpipes makes me cry.
7.  I'm disturbed by people who are mean spirited.
8. I could buy a new pair of shoes every day.
9.  If I could, I'd eat something sweet for every meal, like a banana split followed by a piece of turtle cheesecake.
10. I still feel like I am 24 years old. On the inside.
11. I kind of like doing some things by myself that most people like to do with friends, like shopping or eating in a restaurant.
12. I am happiest when I am with my grandsons.
13. I am saddest when my children are hurting.
14. If I had a do-overs-decade, it would be my 20's. (no explanations)
15. My biggest regret in life is not dancing with my dad at my 8th grade dance. I never got another chance, and I think I hurt his feelings.

Craft Shows!

Jan and I are quickly approaching our first show of the 2010 season. We are doing two this year in Jacksonville, and an Open House here in Gainesville. We have had the best time getting together and creating our little "men" (and women). We have laughed and oooo'd and awwww'd at each others work. Our first show is this Saturday (holy cwap, really?) in Mandarin at the United Methodist Church from 9 to 4. We're ready! We have more than 200 Halloween and Christmas guys ready to find new homes. The biggest pleasure in making them is the hunt for objects to use on them. We found a place that has the best treasure-hunt-factor, but if I told you where it was, I'd have to kill you. So, it's a secret. Most normal people (sorry Jan)would hate going there. It's hot and dirty and a little scary. Critters run around and I keep a constant eye for movement just in case. I have been known to either 1: squeal like a 9 year old girl or 2: curse like my mama at the sight of a spider or lizard. We hope that you will be able to come see us in our booth. Sit a spell, and watch the crowd.

Only 30 days til Halloween

Halloween in my house circa 1960: Every year my dad would get in the kitchen to cook some weird concoction which we had to eat before we were allowed to go Trick Or Treating. In retrospect, it probably wasn't all that weird, it was likely some kind of stew. We were used to my mother's bland style of cooking and anything out of her short repertoire of recipes seemed "weird" to us. There we sat at the dining room table, shoving things around on our plates, hoping beyond hope that mom would say, "OK you're done". Then Ding-Dong, "Trick Or Treat!" Aaack, the other neighborhood kids were already out collecting their goodies. A few more bites and we were on our way. We carried big brown grocery bags to haul our loot. Back then, we were able to go without an adult, and go we did. My brother who is 5 years younger than me, was in tow. We ran as fast as we could from house to house and I can barely remember any Halloween nights that it wasn't raining. And hot. We always came home all sweaty with a ginormous stash and our bags were soaking wet. Mom immediately pulled out all of the bubblegum. We weren't allowed to chew it. Does that even make sense?! No gum, but all the candy we could stuff in our face. Our dentist loved us.
To be perfectly honest, I can't even remember what costumes we wore, all I can remember is how much fun we had. It was a happy time in our neighborhood. We had lots of children our ages to hang out with and we were all innocent enough to enjoy Halloween for what it is meant to be: a happy, silly, care-free day to dress up and get all the candy you'd need until the next candy holiday. Happy Halloween.
...and, No, those are not my dogs, I don't even have a dog. But I can guarantee you that if I had one it would have a costume.

Life is good in Gigi Land

It's 11 P.M. and my baby grandsons are asleep in my bed. I had to lay down with them for a few restless minutes until they both fell asleep. One on either side of me, each clinging to my side because they were afraid of the "monsters under the bed". Oh, how I love those boys and at 2 1/2 and 3 1/2, it's a wonderful world I live in when they are around. I laugh out loud and they make me shiver inside with giddiness. In their last speaking moments tonight, they traded "you're-a-poopoo-head" followed by giggles galore. Thank you, loving daughter, for the special moments for which I would not take any amount of money. And good night, my sweet grandsons, Gigi loves you more than you know.

Lynyrd Skynyrd

I think we all have claims to "fame" or brief moments in our lives when our paths crossed with celebrities. I've had a few myself. When I was in my 20's (a hundred years ago) I went to Disney World with my best friend Terri. As we crossed over from one area to another, we ran face into Lyle Waggoner and his family. Remember him from the Carol Burnett Show? I know, I know. It was 1970 something and he was a hottie then. We squealed like little girls and turned to watch him walk away from us. We even remember what he said... "let's go this way." LOL
Another moment was on a flight back from San Diego to Atlanta. I was riding in first class and was seated directly behind Bob Hope and his lovely wife Dolores. I actually got to talk to him for a minute and told him how he came to Morocco when I was a child and performed for the troops on the base where we were stationed. He was very sweet. It was hilarious watching the coach stewardess (that's what they were called back then) try to sneak up to first class and talk to them.
Why am I writing all this? Well, today Leonard Skinner passed away. He was the coach at my High School, Robert E. Lee, in Jacksonville and was the inspiration to the group Lynyrd Skynyrd who were all my classmates. Another claim to fame. So here's to you coach and the original members: Gary Rossington, Allen Collins, Ronnie VanZant, Bob Burns, and a few others whose names have faded with time. I still get shudders with every play of Free Bird. Rock on.

Are you ready for some football? It's that time of year again. Seems like it's always that time of year around here. If it isn't football, it's baseball, or basketball. Living in Gainesville is a wonderful experience. Its college town appeal is what has kept us here for the last (OMG) 20 years. 20 years?! Go Gators!

My gift to the other departments who support ours at work.  Just a little thank-you for always going the extra mile. It's a little ghost pin. I painted raw p-nuts white, hot glued 3 together, attached google eyes and a pin back. I present them in a matchbook-style cover stamped with a witch on the front and a black cat on the inside. Happy Halloween!

It's almost Halloween! Don't be scared.
I am so excited that it is coming and that my two boys are at the perfect age for Trick-or-Treating. I'm seeing costumes in stores and little signs of decorations here and there. Be still my heart... my favorite time of year. If only our weather would cooperate and give us some fall-ish temperatures.
This is one of my sister's and my creations for our fall craft shows. We will be in the Mandarin Show in Jacksonville on October 16th, and then in the Moroccan Temple Show on November 20, and 21, also in Jax. Come see us!
Karol

Senior Moment?

This morning as I dressed in a semi-dark room so as to not wake my sleeping husband, I applied my make-up as I do every day. My make-up light was plenty bright enough to illuminate my face in the mirror. Moisturizer - check, foundation - check, eyeshadow - check. Masacara, eyeliner and blush follow. My final step is adding eyebrow pencil to my ever thinning brows. I applied as usual, but today they seem darker than normal. hmmm. Let me take a peek at my eyebrow pencil. OMG, that's not my eyebrow pencil, that's my freakin' purple eyeliner pencil. I have purple eyebrows! I have made myself into a clown.
I'd like to think that I can chalk this up to the poor lighting in my bedroom, but I am having more and more of these moments than I care to admit these days.  Last week I had my legs in the wrong holes of my underwear. The week before that, I had a blouse on backwards. Lord help me, I'm too young for this.

roots?

I started my life in Jacksonville and although we lived there for the majority of my childhood, I was the only sibling born there. With dad being a career Navy man, we were unsettled until I was born. My sisters were born in Corpus Christi, Texas, and Pensacola, Florida. My brother was born in Morocco, Africa during a three year stint there with the Navy. My married life has taken me on many adventures of my own. We started in Jacksonville, moved to Seattle, then back to Jacksonville, then to Lakeland, to Fort Worth, then to Houston, on back to Jacksonville, then finally settled in Gainesville. I had a total of 18 addresses as an adult before moving here. We love it here for many reasons. The small town atmosphere, the college town way of thinking, the friends we have grown to love and the convenience of short trips “home” to visit family. I always say that life is one big adventure and you have to take change with that attitude. Change is good. It’s the “don’t sweat the petty stuff” theory that gets me through life’s obstacles.

Etsy items

visit my shops on Etsy:


etsy.com/shop/boogirl99
etsy.com/shop/ghouliesandbeasties

Who'da thunk it?

OMG, here I am just leaping right into the 21st century. Who knew I had it in me to pursue a space in the cyber world for my thoughts and ideas. Share your thoughts right back with me.