tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60932378802909817812024-02-18T19:42:50.398-06:00This isn't what I orderedSome people see the glass as half empty, some see the glass as half full...I just want to know who the HELL drank my wine!Fanniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13256873494991946979noreply@blogger.comBlogger520125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093237880290981781.post-28939317762440222192012-02-13T07:54:00.003-06:002012-02-13T08:08:16.772-06:00Moving OnHelloooooooo!<br />Anybody Home?<br />Have I dropped from every one's feed?<br /><br />Much has been happening in our lives and a large part of those "happenings" finds us moving across the pond. As in the UK. As in England. Though only temporary, we are looking forward to our adventure in our new home.<br /><br />Precious Oldest was quick to point out that when <u>other</u> parents have a mid-life crisis they do something ordinary, like buy a sports car, so why in God's name do <u>her parents</u> have to move to a different country?<br /><br />The answer to this, and other questions, can be found <a href="http://ourmid-lifecrisis.blogspot.com/">here</a> on the blog a started mere days ago.<br /><br />I hope to catch up with my old bloggy pals and see what you and your families are up to!<br /><br />Cheers,<br />FannieFanniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13256873494991946979noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093237880290981781.post-16609063980341868952011-05-20T11:28:00.004-05:002011-05-20T11:37:54.583-05:00Color BlindWhen we bought our house in 1996 we took the kitchen back to the studs. The only thing that remained from the original kitchen when we were done was the dishwasher.<br /><br />At about the ten year mark I was really ready for a change. We also travelled to Italy that same year and I started dreaming of a warm Tuscan kitchen. I poured over magazine. I picked out new counter tops. I brought paint samples home at a rate of three a week.<br /><br />Two years ago we had the wall paper stripped and painted the walls a nice neutral color and replaced the pulls on the cabinets. This was meant to get me through until the kitchen facelift rose to the top of the “financial priorities” list.<br /><br />Finally this spring we said fuck it and I went full bore into picking out back splash and floor tile, faucet and sink. (And OMG the grout. Do you have any idea the number of colors of grout that exist? I didn't)I hired a contractor and over a few weeks’ time it was out with the old and in with the new.<br /><br />But a problem remains. In all this time, over five years’ time, I have been envisioning yellow walls. Beautiful warm, yellow walls. Not the exact SHADE of yellow, (I currently have splotched of paint here, there and everywhere) but certainly yellow. The thing is? In the one place I painted a large swathe of what I thought was my top choice I just….wasn’t…sure. You know that feeling?<br /><br />I had neighbors come over and render opinions. I had family come over and render opinions. I had had very nearly every guest at my daughter’s graduation party render an opinion. <br /><br />Samples of backsplash and countertop in tow, I consulted with professionals at three different paint stores. I brought more paint chips home. <br /><br />Now, more confused than ever, I consulted Precious Oldest. She surveyed the choices, looked me square in the eye and said, “Mom, why are you over thinking this? You want yellow walls; you’ve always wanted yellow walls. And I’ve never known to care what anyone else thinks about ANYTHING, why would you start now?”<br /><br />I think I’m going to paint my kitchen walls this weekend. YELLOW.Fanniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13256873494991946979noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093237880290981781.post-73554274801864266592011-05-16T14:32:00.009-05:002011-05-16T14:35:48.677-05:00Summa Cum Laude<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7YXtRMkG0N1sJUAOHnRUYHBdkWuAOE2lWZCSPry619yGCWRcUCLLejuKls_Qur_3B9sk2hnMmlIQhjN5e6ozBZZ0A9gvo4SXnj8OwRWmCKMICskkG84hwRA_bGv1KtgbqxwaQlW8dHhA/s1600/ksu1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607399693337578706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7YXtRMkG0N1sJUAOHnRUYHBdkWuAOE2lWZCSPry619yGCWRcUCLLejuKls_Qur_3B9sk2hnMmlIQhjN5e6ozBZZ0A9gvo4SXnj8OwRWmCKMICskkG84hwRA_bGv1KtgbqxwaQlW8dHhA/s200/ksu1.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3h3IdyftO-LbKtkOHnnSS2CANfgvEEUoi9i7IvGJ2nfymY5_EpRMysVeaLtGSpbr21gOXj0shpHK2HKZ9Yru29P-JNag8SjtztoGiaOu6UxWlvD31hw81yeU0tBoC_mpzPjvDhC-_GJQ/s1600/KSU3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607399625069487490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3h3IdyftO-LbKtkOHnnSS2CANfgvEEUoi9i7IvGJ2nfymY5_EpRMysVeaLtGSpbr21gOXj0shpHK2HKZ9Yru29P-JNag8SjtztoGiaOu6UxWlvD31hw81yeU0tBoC_mpzPjvDhC-_GJQ/s200/KSU3.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwrew7QFxd423Rjh5mn83eS9BO-xZ2dlOk462F6hvsqC0Y5Hh1X5attdBR6fPzxbKTTiuBEdbiVwed93Reg2VgMPis7HTAfqzTvYb5RjQBCk4KIreMevMKbWl4iVVOQBoFvYrsRR1XvOQ/s1600/KSU2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607399571753084946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwrew7QFxd423Rjh5mn83eS9BO-xZ2dlOk462F6hvsqC0Y5Hh1X5attdBR6fPzxbKTTiuBEdbiVwed93Reg2VgMPis7HTAfqzTvYb5RjQBCk4KIreMevMKbWl4iVVOQBoFvYrsRR1XvOQ/s200/KSU2.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPE_kQMO1c7ZW-XBCvlGO_BYUYGMDyZaHPEqBugBKk5lDFOjiiXbtbYsFyH9gR8Jaj0yXeySUF2LXomJZmKhdBnmN67LCnIL3D9brFrIrBmoaZ2mVtH_ErmgP6rUJcKUMCBnKucgIgVI0/s1600/KSU4.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607399503150210258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPE_kQMO1c7ZW-XBCvlGO_BYUYGMDyZaHPEqBugBKk5lDFOjiiXbtbYsFyH9gR8Jaj0yXeySUF2LXomJZmKhdBnmN67LCnIL3D9brFrIrBmoaZ2mVtH_ErmgP6rUJcKUMCBnKucgIgVI0/s200/KSU4.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizEnv87fHNyuSTJ2pCurJIUCMHgbQ8gN4qRyHrU7k6xTvN2F_dubGcYD1LAv4E8fidq4HlseIvnD_KGme96OzGqJkOTsAaaCyr6WagOX3NKBiqwR6CFgQIAZJ-IKoDLxwSVNOTd23XQy4/s1600/KSU5.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607399444751666866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizEnv87fHNyuSTJ2pCurJIUCMHgbQ8gN4qRyHrU7k6xTvN2F_dubGcYD1LAv4E8fidq4HlseIvnD_KGme96OzGqJkOTsAaaCyr6WagOX3NKBiqwR6CFgQIAZJ-IKoDLxwSVNOTd23XQy4/s200/KSU5.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ6hQMOGKKVlMqyeZkINl0YSDZNeTS6RR3Tbg48_nI3hpGRklblu95XX067HI9VyZuwyoOyvq7Br9k_c8RRkNtRaw7BjezxKMLgz62ktTnNk0VHX-x7DAA97f01q33xcP07k86kNnDYfQ/s1600/KSU6.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607399370262592018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ6hQMOGKKVlMqyeZkINl0YSDZNeTS6RR3Tbg48_nI3hpGRklblu95XX067HI9VyZuwyoOyvq7Br9k_c8RRkNtRaw7BjezxKMLgz62ktTnNk0VHX-x7DAA97f01q33xcP07k86kNnDYfQ/s200/KSU6.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcgVa4UPaik5fQLBKbhRcJrSEwKE4-ack-G_jrhlkb373c0RqJd19_CQhibFWlty83J6rgCVvZgE7KtaB6FGd4-jwoe4kHrVzyClKY_6U1XDo_NCcvYCRGUyx8387kqfDfo2K_AeF4SeY/s1600/KSU7.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607399294529816354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcgVa4UPaik5fQLBKbhRcJrSEwKE4-ack-G_jrhlkb373c0RqJd19_CQhibFWlty83J6rgCVvZgE7KtaB6FGd4-jwoe4kHrVzyClKY_6U1XDo_NCcvYCRGUyx8387kqfDfo2K_AeF4SeY/s200/KSU7.jpg" /></a> </div>Fanniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13256873494991946979noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093237880290981781.post-21524204590384894652011-04-28T15:37:00.008-05:002011-04-28T15:46:21.359-05:00Radio SilenceSince my last post:<br /><br /><ul><li>Audit at work – stress and madness ensue<br /><li>Vacation – lovely blur because<br /><li>FIL fell while we were gone sustaining grave injury<br /><li>IT conversion at work – stress and madness ensue<br /><li>FIL not progressing, bring in hospice<br /><li>Struggle to continue on with major fundraising event<br /><li>Funeral<br /><li>Put on huge fundraising event<br /><li>Spend time with Precious Oldest, home for spring break<br /><li>Spend time with Precious Youngest, home for spring break<br /><li>Shake fists at the heavens that their spring breaks were different weeks<br /><li>Go to the doctor and find out stress has caused weight loss. Go figure<br /><li>Send out resume and get called for interview<br /><li>Then….Nothing<br /><li>Start lettuce and carrots, prune and feed roses, beef up perennials<br /><li>Begin kitchen facelift<br /><li>Find out that lack of running water/stove/refrigerator render me useless<br /><li>Realize I would have made a shitty pioneer<br /><li>Girls home for Easter<br /><li>Have 70th birthday party for my mother<br /><li>Get called f or a second interview<br /><li>Then…Nothing<br /><li>Get a call from Precious Oldest – SHE HAS A JOB!<br /><li>Praise sweet baby jesus that kitchen face lift is done save for painting the walls<br /><li>Realize day after day after day of dreary weather has stopped me from doing any further gardening. Will likely see first tomato around fucking Labor Day<br /><li>Start researching possibilities for new kitchen table and chairs<br /><li>The Saint informs me budget is blown<br /><li>I keep looking for furniture anyway</li></ul><br />Oh people I could weep. It has been a ragged few months. I look at this pathetic list and notice a total lack of nuance yet my life is filled day to day with grace notes I can’t put into words. I don’t want to abandon this space. We shall see.Fanniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13256873494991946979noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093237880290981781.post-77259065242031273102011-02-04T09:06:00.008-06:002011-02-04T09:32:50.242-06:00Blizzard 2011Three below zero. This temperature does not reflect wind chill.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2fmLVB6PHQTwnAFtdUPwZch0i2e5C_tGETxALqX8ZAkBHMjCv1EIBL0-IcRvIqqxuUE83KuQ_lCJjDPfouQU9Eo_9QFHHg_t_h7zv12zKlxHpDfhDqWjFCJHZmzRF-qMNOPRnU2R0g7E/s1600/pic+027.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569853382037658626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2fmLVB6PHQTwnAFtdUPwZch0i2e5C_tGETxALqX8ZAkBHMjCv1EIBL0-IcRvIqqxuUE83KuQ_lCJjDPfouQU9Eo_9QFHHg_t_h7zv12zKlxHpDfhDqWjFCJHZmzRF-qMNOPRnU2R0g7E/s200/pic+027.jpg" /></a><br /><br />We're nearly dug out.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpO7LZGkI7loRRq5ujZjuPYtQdWQhrbSpbY_-8WlbatpL3H2KPvvPSac1pUNoDBROMo8NoifR4cF7Mm4aPq2Yf2tN6f5sXrveiiKg3-fGQbDF-c0G3ba9Jil2ogUcsrEfgjyDUTl636ZA/s1600/pic+014.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569853010090681842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpO7LZGkI7loRRq5ujZjuPYtQdWQhrbSpbY_-8WlbatpL3H2KPvvPSac1pUNoDBROMo8NoifR4cF7Mm4aPq2Yf2tN6f5sXrveiiKg3-fGQbDF-c0G3ba9Jil2ogUcsrEfgjyDUTl636ZA/s200/pic+014.jpg" /></a><br /><br />But in places where the drifts are substantial<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnkyyYO5mv80HxAf37nNfkiib0uZM-JnwrAG8_io17xo9fYYeFNAIp3Fag62i18bm_thTypgra5OHscNy9BLIbQJpNBuR1mqsv6vGINZ1TF7M8GQ0FMVWNzL8waKSkkoZL_3O-pH4FDsk/s1600/pic+021.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 157px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569852690583620754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnkyyYO5mv80HxAf37nNfkiib0uZM-JnwrAG8_io17xo9fYYeFNAIp3Fag62i18bm_thTypgra5OHscNy9BLIbQJpNBuR1mqsv6vGINZ1TF7M8GQ0FMVWNzL8waKSkkoZL_3O-pH4FDsk/s200/pic+021.jpg" /></a><br /><br />who knows when we'll see the ground again?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitw9_l0KEbxivHt8-Lewls8tbwRukSHBWsFYiv4pDwXAXxdCUGUvMph4YpGpHq3_3f2eizfg2NH6GoVanA9bIYFZDgA8UqM_ouyJPmqTVOID9ncRhkNUPaPfIs4lns6sA7vbfbqS_5910/s1600/pic+026.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569851496163095090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitw9_l0KEbxivHt8-Lewls8tbwRukSHBWsFYiv4pDwXAXxdCUGUvMph4YpGpHq3_3f2eizfg2NH6GoVanA9bIYFZDgA8UqM_ouyJPmqTVOID9ncRhkNUPaPfIs4lns6sA7vbfbqS_5910/s200/pic+026.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://40ishfannie.blogspot.com/2008/01/three-weeks.html">Fortunately</a>, this time <a href="http://40ishfannie.blogspot.com/2009/02/two-weeks.html">next week </a>I'll be <a href="http://40ishfannie.blogspot.com/2010/02/one-week.html">on a beach </a>with The Saint. <br /><br />Jealous?Fanniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13256873494991946979noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093237880290981781.post-73252210682695770662011-01-27T11:45:00.003-06:002011-01-27T12:29:31.646-06:00<div align="center">*<a href="http://melissawestemeier.blogspot.com/2011/01/resolutions.html"><em>Green Girl </em></a><em>inspired me to finish this post about goals/resolutions!</em></div><br /><br />I've talked before about New Year's <a href="http://40ishfannie.blogspot.com/2009/01/consider-me-awesome.html">Resolutions</a>. I typically think long and hard about one concrete goal for the coming year. I ponder the things I’ve really been meaning to do but just haven’t gotten around to actually doing. Nothing earth shattering; just something that with a little bit of effort could not only be accomplished but could perhaps become a good habit.<br /><br />This year my goal was to cook for the food kitchen every month. Our church has a day a month that we are responsible for. The meal we serve has not changed in the almost twenty five years that we’ve been parishioners. It’s a simple Sloppy Joe recipe and I’ve prepared it for the food kitchen over the years, but sporadically and less and less since I’ve been working.<br /><br />Every month they publish the recipe in the bulletin the week prior. I have an ancient copy in my recipe box. Meals are delivered to the parish center by 9:30 in the morning and then a group of volunteers transport the food to the facility and serve.<br /><br />In order to meet my goal I worked out a simple plan. Mid-December I set reminders for myself in Outlook: two weeks prior, one week prior and a day of calendar reminder. I stocked up on the chicken gumbo soup that is part of the recipe but not always easy to find. Then I went out and bought a large, plastic storage container. I figured I could cook the meal ahead and freeze it; particularly helpful on weekdays. All I’d have to do is thaw it the day before, buy the buns, heat it up in the morning and deliver! The plan was taking shape.<br /><br />I was doing the weekly grocery shopping towards the end of December and saw that ground beef was on sale. Our day to serve was, by this time, right around the corner and I figured why wait until January? I bought four pounds of ground beef, went home and went to town. On our day to serve the Saint dropped my contribution at church on his way to work.<br /><br />Our day to serve for January is this weekend. My Sloppy Joes are cooked and frozen. The day before I’ll get the buns and thaw the meat. And as it’s a weekend I’ll get to join the other volunteers and go to the food kitchen and serve.<br /><br />I’m off to a good start and I have great confidence that I can most certainly remember to participate the rest of the year. I assume after twelve months it will become second nature and I won’t need the “reminders”.<br /><br />It is such a simple thing yet so satisfyingFanniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13256873494991946979noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093237880290981781.post-36915156714575591232011-01-24T15:40:00.005-06:002011-01-24T16:19:44.483-06:00Dress Code ViolationI shed my work day like a snakeskin. Within sixty seconds of hitting the door my work clothes come off. It's not as if my office has some draconian dress code that includes skirts and pantyhose.<br /><br />(Hell, I pretty much give myself a jeans day every Friday!)<br /><br />No, for me the shedding has more to do with stripping off the work day. It's a physical letting go and sinking into the comfort and routine of home.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2QthO-BaLChGUnWptRJfq1mUFlDgy7QUsr_BHhZAI48M8L-YJvSBxEunu1PUFh5CNvK7mYQ1f_ulRyQHtO5c4yjl0G5KpJa7TitoI19-K0bBgM_cjOrwzC00CwlVMO-XXuN9v0EY_qFo/s1600/jan+012.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 146px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564789895469281666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2QthO-BaLChGUnWptRJfq1mUFlDgy7QUsr_BHhZAI48M8L-YJvSBxEunu1PUFh5CNvK7mYQ1f_ulRyQHtO5c4yjl0G5KpJa7TitoI19-K0bBgM_cjOrwzC00CwlVMO-XXuN9v0EY_qFo/s200/jan+012.jpg" /></a><br />But let's be honest; this time of year usually finds me going from work clothes straight to pajama pants. They're just so comfy.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMWLovK-nnXXtguJ0Ffha392FbVTTe7oPj2SxQU3RfutRdhbaneq9rkqziA9SfiQDt14KNJ58w-tfIlTgPbyrUptItAV3h4CZ31p9pRUeQXWj4ZqluBeAPg2WtwcFmXEZ0GmK8YPcHfng/s1600/jan+013.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 132px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564789558352882242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMWLovK-nnXXtguJ0Ffha392FbVTTe7oPj2SxQU3RfutRdhbaneq9rkqziA9SfiQDt14KNJ58w-tfIlTgPbyrUptItAV3h4CZ31p9pRUeQXWj4ZqluBeAPg2WtwcFmXEZ0GmK8YPcHfng/s200/jan+013.jpg" /></a><br />I mean for the lova’ God it's, cold, dark and snowy. Don't I deserve a little flannel with an elastic waist?<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJxqMjEdbya1d6rfB0sr23ywvrQkXeePktc0vV6gDrStksb9EHCivwsSE39S-YBbx6c8nrYL-YRoPbk2nD7Pxjansahx6tSQhXkdrrm0zG3rkg-fbCm3Xb3TUD1QR_BerixwJLK8kSHPk/s1600/jan+014.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 142px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564789199344532866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJxqMjEdbya1d6rfB0sr23ywvrQkXeePktc0vV6gDrStksb9EHCivwsSE39S-YBbx6c8nrYL-YRoPbk2nD7Pxjansahx6tSQhXkdrrm0zG3rkg-fbCm3Xb3TUD1QR_BerixwJLK8kSHPk/s200/jan+014.jpg" /></a><br />Chances are I'm in for the night and if you happen to stop by? I don't give a rats ass.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz3Z5gxHXL_Xhj-SY7LIxrnmFElpUTrrlRdVNsBojMuNPPQGizd2Ec-esm8D_PfIJuTo0WdaXVtYdGv5W-veDq8U1fpUmfxHhoAV7wJeTIPTZDdB1KdlaKko0N6cKhQu77VqCjqwTWAkw/s1600/jan+015.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564788872948328818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz3Z5gxHXL_Xhj-SY7LIxrnmFElpUTrrlRdVNsBojMuNPPQGizd2Ec-esm8D_PfIJuTo0WdaXVtYdGv5W-veDq8U1fpUmfxHhoAV7wJeTIPTZDdB1KdlaKko0N6cKhQu77VqCjqwTWAkw/s200/jan+015.jpg" /></a><br />However this winter I've taken to entertaining in my PJs.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbaQJ_QaFvkK5NpfwpXi5F4birLvwDgrAXV3CKkxk7hqhKP9r5bVCt1I9gX4yaTytUbqALq3qkFZTX_oPQ0mbk_Uq-k3a0MG0GMKMXoUYtDxwqSFovGgN37QKWEuUJ58dw3cewYM9FoBg/s1600/jan+017.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 189px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564788501370240866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbaQJ_QaFvkK5NpfwpXi5F4birLvwDgrAXV3CKkxk7hqhKP9r5bVCt1I9gX4yaTytUbqALq3qkFZTX_oPQ0mbk_Uq-k3a0MG0GMKMXoUYtDxwqSFovGgN37QKWEuUJ58dw3cewYM9FoBg/s200/jan+017.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br />Hell, I've taken to going to other peoples <u>homes</u> in my PJs.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Last week we were headed to my parents’ house for dinner. I’d been on autopilot when I got home from work and already had my pajamas on. I wondered aloud if my mother would mind my showing up for DINNER in my pajamas. The Saint simply shrugged and said, “<a href="http://40ishfannie.blogspot.com/2010/02/overheard.html">You don’t actually SLEEP in them</a>, so they’re not REALLY pajamas, they’re HOUSE PANTS!”<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">HOUSE PANTS!</span> Is it any wonder I love that man?!Fanniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13256873494991946979noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093237880290981781.post-31415731317734676472011-01-20T15:49:00.006-06:002011-01-20T15:55:43.580-06:00Make It Stop!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3S2YSJsLvYH2P_2N-iZ6ToC88C98wuBL5cnJ8Cq-NZ-JsaEh1bCjRiE9PpED9FD84PXX6mnPM5gK_oixnlfKRwm9MJk3s7HNLmggXFaYp3D47yq41oLalpK_s3c1AjgIbuPtd7fs_e5A/s1600/dry+skin.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564388954323498370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3S2YSJsLvYH2P_2N-iZ6ToC88C98wuBL5cnJ8Cq-NZ-JsaEh1bCjRiE9PpED9FD84PXX6mnPM5gK_oixnlfKRwm9MJk3s7HNLmggXFaYp3D47yq41oLalpK_s3c1AjgIbuPtd7fs_e5A/s200/dry+skin.jpg" /></a> Another six inches of snow. I don’t know about you but it is so cold and dry in my house/car/office right now I’m about to lose my mind. It doesn’t matter how much body lotion I slather on; my skin is painfully raw.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiW2VBoq20jn39aVI9WjYu1-1ssAeLjo8DB4GbCWKKkCpfpQq_MQEljUObHcybPovtFc28a2OQYQUMuyVxiBn68_GoeIqckkvnYLi5g9lWr5wPv3yBV2Fwsg_8R8kOyqOfrWtI5HsZOI8/s1600/wool.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 141px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564388846270017986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiW2VBoq20jn39aVI9WjYu1-1ssAeLjo8DB4GbCWKKkCpfpQq_MQEljUObHcybPovtFc28a2OQYQUMuyVxiBn68_GoeIqckkvnYLi5g9lWr5wPv3yBV2Fwsg_8R8kOyqOfrWtI5HsZOI8/s200/wool.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />All my clothes feel like they’re made of the scratchiest wool<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioOcf-fnxPNYdfDw9XEWUOb6bMwTLVdild94mXG1cTkw6daBjs5oMhAtsOiMd6dGjVwHXiY0772nCeUc5gXSoeJYH6bgzShPSNhkAv4FX-XW0LCwcdSQCa-XAJSeYk2B4XDp-Rba_EoSA/s1600/puritan-woman.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 153px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564388758511878114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioOcf-fnxPNYdfDw9XEWUOb6bMwTLVdild94mXG1cTkw6daBjs5oMhAtsOiMd6dGjVwHXiY0772nCeUc5gXSoeJYH6bgzShPSNhkAv4FX-XW0LCwcdSQCa-XAJSeYk2B4XDp-Rba_EoSA/s200/puritan-woman.jpg" /></a><br /><br />spun by self-loathing puritans.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I wonder what The Saint will think when he returns from his business trip to find me covered in Vaseline and enveloped in Saran Wrap? </div>Fanniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13256873494991946979noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093237880290981781.post-88312242447736744732011-01-13T12:13:00.003-06:002011-01-13T12:44:31.433-06:00Things Precious Oldest did over Christmas Break<a href="http://40ishfannie.blogspot.com/2010/12/wheres-waldo-christmas-edition.html">Hid the baby Jesus </a>72 times.<br /><br />Decided all gift bows must be worn<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEd_3vL7u7DC4kVB_MLrNFuORZlEpvheOa0hlI2lW0XIAnKI833WSW_ao3RDZmX-y5272cDoY8oNJCATGW9KxoUaRaD1BERqJ6uexLmr4CL0L5R2s5EqSzUl5CTnYdlOYyGH74wb_vXuw/s1600/DSC_0034.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561739207830617282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEd_3vL7u7DC4kVB_MLrNFuORZlEpvheOa0hlI2lW0XIAnKI833WSW_ao3RDZmX-y5272cDoY8oNJCATGW9KxoUaRaD1BERqJ6uexLmr4CL0L5R2s5EqSzUl5CTnYdlOYyGH74wb_vXuw/s200/DSC_0034.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Decided her mother must wear gift bows too<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561739313730592274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBGl_ndNd0FB-OYi9e5nVhYUjmFo3Iuham3lAVz2REDgLJfGoyympe9Yqn6wU5n3fVZq77eNLLCR3n_fB30BQzxb98cX3f82vG6hauqxMBfTFWamOF1ABqi168y6-ugh8ZDJmcfz8qH2w/s200/DSC_0037.jpg" /><br /><br />Made her mother read a Christmas bedtime story<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561740118346166050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw-OtxQEnb-uJj2T-c7OVGwnYafoPp6JAJiCL9bvXUQ8GxgjzjstGJK4HnsYAGCelSdkwrEnCKvF87FBrgFKzBCEyJJyZarhSKF_PbSoN5gPo11wmD37AZ0hA2zxLq-_6slvkN4HNmML0/s200/DSC_0042.jpg" /><br /><br />Put out cookies and eggnog for Santa<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561740382865035058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTfYP47GXee42PgfsRcSHBZ2IEJ0xYBikdFQYhTDCEVUNcDg-OnKcudyhgWT910sPGhfSpdMSy-zRF5xTngPGMoVuYNyitLkpdUjb2h7jZMmICPcY8noB81CICbW7w6pO1xqKWNzeKZBE/s200/DSC_0056.jpg" /><br /><br />Made fun of her mother's ass while she was digging gifts out from under the tree<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCHuklkmLwf0VOaIGRu7fs83VhHsiZKSdXUEqI-Z8ePnI0xNUmoTiy03w7WP-SnphrxRuL9QzYoMu00eq-2U2E6rIelJRhaDJy_M0HJK5UQcybVskNf4GzwyjVU8nRxXTul30QOK-fJxw/s1600/DSC_0081.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 178px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5561742321674254322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCHuklkmLwf0VOaIGRu7fs83VhHsiZKSdXUEqI-Z8ePnI0xNUmoTiy03w7WP-SnphrxRuL9QzYoMu00eq-2U2E6rIelJRhaDJy_M0HJK5UQcybVskNf4GzwyjVU8nRxXTul30QOK-fJxw/s200/DSC_0081.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Finished her t-shirt quilt<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheJ8AVBAtz0YvZyKXRAReV0cObSBGR8Lps1Szglw2HwTEzEzrAVXS4uEonEP1LCslNS6rq7hThEb2-y9RqMQBJbcoOTlt0PvsyUA6m5Vq3cmGUJQHAjdtzC2dkJJOXERNnGDgEDLYouqs/s1600/pic+160.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 130px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559509204496802754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheJ8AVBAtz0YvZyKXRAReV0cObSBGR8Lps1Szglw2HwTEzEzrAVXS4uEonEP1LCslNS6rq7hThEb2-y9RqMQBJbcoOTlt0PvsyUA6m5Vq3cmGUJQHAjdtzC2dkJJOXERNnGDgEDLYouqs/s200/pic+160.jpg" /></a> Yeah, all the rest of that stuff was just to show you how cute the quilt turned out!Fanniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13256873494991946979noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093237880290981781.post-70275204012368973982011-01-07T14:58:00.004-06:002011-01-07T15:03:05.368-06:00This and That<ul><li>I have such great pictures from the holidays but I don’t think I’m getting them up over here any time soon. Which means it will probably NEVER happen because who wants to see Christmas pictures at Easter? <li>Lord have mercy folks, work is kicking my ASS right now. <li>We put up the last of the Christmas mishmash last night. The worst of it in my opinion; <a href="http://40ishfannie.blogspot.com/2010/12/wheres-waldo-christmas-edition.html">the Christmas dishes</a>. So! Fun! To! Get! Out! So very tiresome to store away. <li>Precious Youngest and my niece head back to school Sunday so we’re having various and sundry family and friends over for pizza tonight to get one more visit in with the college kids before they disappear. <li>Precious Oldest is feeling like a big kid!</li></ul><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd-dF988etVgbPYLoGlZYkferZ7iDzAc6qxpx0D6f_6Vmj5hxrPTmbJRz5IAgCCRg9jIQNNUP87sAD7R0kSz3jIBtMwMPA7iO6bcY2LeWGCL06JnLl9L2yNGTbGavDgY4r60yTd0bhvTg/s1600/BIG+KID.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 128px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559551338635056066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd-dF988etVgbPYLoGlZYkferZ7iDzAc6qxpx0D6f_6Vmj5hxrPTmbJRz5IAgCCRg9jIQNNUP87sAD7R0kSz3jIBtMwMPA7iO6bcY2LeWGCL06JnLl9L2yNGTbGavDgY4r60yTd0bhvTg/s200/BIG+KID.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Happy Friday!Fanniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13256873494991946979noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093237880290981781.post-79332376535466509142011-01-06T14:38:00.008-06:002011-01-06T14:58:59.250-06:00Sometimes....<div align="center">Sometimes I think<br /></div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik_2zZ1gUG2qZngzw4NPPmqAdnJCTuZR0oOvwD-nUHDw6h0q8ddw-0GSNtuo5_udg4Dsti702Jf7RkvnIuUtnLj6vdL0nRjlHS-Br-ji3cGXkUKvaExgvzIj7YPYXmm646TX0XviMHoZ4/s1600/zits+2.gif"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 64px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559178511526950818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik_2zZ1gUG2qZngzw4NPPmqAdnJCTuZR0oOvwD-nUHDw6h0q8ddw-0GSNtuo5_udg4Dsti702Jf7RkvnIuUtnLj6vdL0nRjlHS-Br-ji3cGXkUKvaExgvzIj7YPYXmm646TX0XviMHoZ4/s200/zits+2.gif" /> <p align="center"></a><br /><br />Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman<br /><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTHpettfDBim1oewbYpZPqYcOTtGbHzsVOSoKzq99uAWWrSBL2Ohz64sl6EaOX9fQYmJPSPksFi0urPMoI0Cfpl0o2hYBpQHuFgX51b645XNn_pFhiSaMNcDkbUhSPhP5w075HcW5R_lE/s1600/zits+1.gif"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 64px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559178430353367298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTHpettfDBim1oewbYpZPqYcOTtGbHzsVOSoKzq99uAWWrSBL2Ohz64sl6EaOX9fQYmJPSPksFi0urPMoI0Cfpl0o2hYBpQHuFgX51b645XNn_pFhiSaMNcDkbUhSPhP5w075HcW5R_lE/s200/zits+1.gif" /> <p align="center"></a><br /><br />have a hidden camera in my house.<br /><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtTA9tX7ZiHEcBhkl3YLRVmePlJIrklhqLha-7WpHuRGek4Agjj_f0r7Q5hzMwz01z4MNbax5ygt21q5WcdxbvjrdAqjxDOAVl_1FipjzVZ4jU4Uqx5HBSMNVCNgKCFx3jGL17_gF9_XY/s1600/zits+3.gif"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 64px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559178325675842130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtTA9tX7ZiHEcBhkl3YLRVmePlJIrklhqLha-7WpHuRGek4Agjj_f0r7Q5hzMwz01z4MNbax5ygt21q5WcdxbvjrdAqjxDOAVl_1FipjzVZ4jU4Uqx5HBSMNVCNgKCFx3jGL17_gF9_XY/s200/zits+3.gif" /> <p align="center"></a><br /><br />I'm just sayin'.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.arcamax.com/zits">Link to "Zits"</a><br /><br /></p>Fanniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13256873494991946979noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093237880290981781.post-35366572815760978742011-01-03T07:58:00.003-06:002011-01-03T09:36:34.266-06:00Happy 2011Sort of fell off the map there didn't I? Not to worry, all is well. I just got very immersed in family and well..there you have it.<br /><br /><li>For the first time since I started working I had a few vacation days saved up to use in and around the holidays. I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed having a few extra days at home!<br /><li>We had a lovely Christmas with our daughters and family.<br /><li>We also had a birthday. Christmas was forever changed for us in 1988 with the arrival of Precious Oldest. She turned twenty two this Christmas. TWENTY TWO! We’<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">ve</span> ended up with a smart, funny, kind kid who embarks on her student teaching TOMORROW. How did this happen?<br /><li>We traveled south to visit the Saint's folks the day after Christmas as his father was not up to the trip to come to us.<br /><li>New Year’s Eve was terribly relaxing filled with friends, family and featured me staying in my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">PJs</span> until 4:30!<br /><li>New Year’s Day we went to see “The King’s Speech”. I can’t say enough about this movie – if you haven’t already done so GO SEE IT NOW!<br /><li>I am off and running on my 2011 New Year’s Resolution.</li><br /><br />What have you all been up to?Fanniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13256873494991946979noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093237880290981781.post-2533499284835226072010-12-21T08:05:00.001-06:002010-12-21T08:43:19.472-06:00Where's Waldo? Christmas EditionThe most oft repeated phrase in my house since the Precious Daughters return from college?<br /><br />"Where is Baby Jesus??!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPLIqoC74joeFmTmaFNkKyztnv4WDDDVwBc56ElGNBAwnKz1YdEw0kmted5SW1WI_oMUrzazFw8X2x_wPXETJHMWd9MwTE0cF_xyVHJufOI9q1DE7dUrIn25InoIfGy0H-YkmnmqRcY10/s1600/DSCF6495.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552828317072249362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPLIqoC74joeFmTmaFNkKyztnv4WDDDVwBc56ElGNBAwnKz1YdEw0kmted5SW1WI_oMUrzazFw8X2x_wPXETJHMWd9MwTE0cF_xyVHJufOI9q1DE7dUrIn25InoIfGy0H-YkmnmqRcY10/s200/DSCF6495.jpg" /></a><br /><br />"I SAID, WHERE IS BABY JESUS??!!"<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnXtVGNT_QoAFq4T_AD5GnfC0S6f3Uvwi9XUD5SKLwv9r2uMvz1kg-PB8IA7Ja6L2b5H5MFlb_ukPYCNkUnr8k7hUvpKntjllTcTzgzYvKBkDl3cYDj8rRHoJLxiq1jhPHGkHlKqWbSFE/s1600/DSCF6498.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 151px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552827921724252754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnXtVGNT_QoAFq4T_AD5GnfC0S6f3Uvwi9XUD5SKLwv9r2uMvz1kg-PB8IA7Ja6L2b5H5MFlb_ukPYCNkUnr8k7hUvpKntjllTcTzgzYvKBkDl3cYDj8rRHoJLxiq1jhPHGkHlKqWbSFE/s200/DSCF6498.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI0wAHvcGRDt3m_MKgR6eOq4wgJ_QENza1r_cbP_9E6sFQKZgeWv1_OqoOcMzC26fmY0M2h-WXyDpT5d-PUsiKbx0n5tJEyCYfReSgE5hg2uLT6dCCrWp5onkaPvw4TgLWKdB91qS4ZTc/s1600/DSCF6496.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 144px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552827617445380338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI0wAHvcGRDt3m_MKgR6eOq4wgJ_QENza1r_cbP_9E6sFQKZgeWv1_OqoOcMzC26fmY0M2h-WXyDpT5d-PUsiKbx0n5tJEyCYfReSgE5hg2uLT6dCCrWp5onkaPvw4TgLWKdB91qS4ZTc/s200/DSCF6496.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIbsZbyfK4FTWhuFL3-OJfzaLQyK9AZkvlEILste9r_M8-5qOGCm-dD78cpyuGInRs_eOrWQQgqbNa6IBswEnMxvhZKQ5kWlErug6LTPVDNXqWEKfUvWTM9bUGqcfsuj5MB47JWML6MGk/s1600/DSCF6497.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 181px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552827391217141458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIbsZbyfK4FTWhuFL3-OJfzaLQyK9AZkvlEILste9r_M8-5qOGCm-dD78cpyuGInRs_eOrWQQgqbNa6IBswEnMxvhZKQ5kWlErug6LTPVDNXqWEKfUvWTM9bUGqcfsuj5MB47JWML6MGk/s200/DSCF6497.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXkv3nR13V9i72y9Vt6O3b3Nt9kLc6ljTn6jteJjAbPL0iF_WGb1_1CA_lELwxsLDYdbewvstm-BGZWe880q3Bx5FsNil6a73jn1tBtYPOFq5tlu7o9DuiEQFSecn46w89_vrRXTQu340/s1600/pic+126.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 177px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553144838730376370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXkv3nR13V9i72y9Vt6O3b3Nt9kLc6ljTn6jteJjAbPL0iF_WGb1_1CA_lELwxsLDYdbewvstm-BGZWe880q3Bx5FsNil6a73jn1tBtYPOFq5tlu7o9DuiEQFSecn46w89_vrRXTQu340/s200/pic+126.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir6PKF4O3qeSKkC5615wLpAVi1wZK58X2nKIekMUM_S3660T9Xojb6cW-G1D7kLLE20pu1tGo_afDhNNqhgz7wk4hU2ePJEqM1jnOzUfA2Y7HDbGAtaAmRo3i-YMHEfG_rm3xY5hwNiOM/s1600/pic+129.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 175px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553145137926681698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir6PKF4O3qeSKkC5615wLpAVi1wZK58X2nKIekMUM_S3660T9Xojb6cW-G1D7kLLE20pu1tGo_afDhNNqhgz7wk4hU2ePJEqM1jnOzUfA2Y7HDbGAtaAmRo3i-YMHEfG_rm3xY5hwNiOM/s200/pic+129.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Answer: Anywhere but in the manger. Sheesh.Fanniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13256873494991946979noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093237880290981781.post-31876879844343798492010-12-17T07:00:00.005-06:002010-12-17T07:00:00.692-06:00Holiday Home TourOnce again, many thanks to <a href="http://jenontheedge.com/">Jen</a> for organizing what has become an annual event. It gets me motivated to get my decorating done. While I think my home looks nice I don’t know that I possess the same home décor gene that others seem to have. I am not, at my core, a very creative person. So with THOSE low expectations let’s take a look around shall we?<br /><br />Technically, for Catholics, Christmas doesn’t begin until December 24th. We are now in the season of Advent. We celebrate each evening around our kitchen table by lighting the Advent Wreath.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKGXPuE5auy4XnjRMTJlFSdnKPugIPcQAdnAVlKE_K3eoh7lutBxcu-mdSraBAqczMlv8pckKApuYM2RFwC0QOH7m1PeAA3S9oUwDH3L6qNRnoWVqCGxQgRUONlgjkNBglP_FRTwCvFCM/s1600/pic+108.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 182px" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550554090498125026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKGXPuE5auy4XnjRMTJlFSdnKPugIPcQAdnAVlKE_K3eoh7lutBxcu-mdSraBAqczMlv8pckKApuYM2RFwC0QOH7m1PeAA3S9oUwDH3L6qNRnoWVqCGxQgRUONlgjkNBglP_FRTwCvFCM/s200/pic+108.jpg" /></a><br /><br />I have things hidden in several nooks and crannies in the kitchen.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPoEWPDFNRB-yIS49i_SC60vksYgF5BZpzHvvj41AvhPoxmzAl_NUyfn_-uH_vztCvsSftlCkC-45FbiNFKnam2jyXHWcmM6egQu1_mZWCPhu8iJIulU-K8kPLj-vt1sueJjJkEfEmzY4/s1600/pic+078.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 161px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550956453237176466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPoEWPDFNRB-yIS49i_SC60vksYgF5BZpzHvvj41AvhPoxmzAl_NUyfn_-uH_vztCvsSftlCkC-45FbiNFKnam2jyXHWcmM6egQu1_mZWCPhu8iJIulU-K8kPLj-vt1sueJjJkEfEmzY4/s200/pic+078.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtRFsCchyoVGv2h6GplTjauYEz-KyNGxiCdMkHxNPhCQ-W00Ju4pLRokK3MxpbqFhyphenhyphenrUXq_GVJdzieMLpDGo47rJQPy3Tq20wObKy2mmG_Bc3Hm_J7L3KWFYTVvlT1r5zCrPyRiQ16z8/s1600/DSCF6470.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551091118058804306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtRFsCchyoVGv2h6GplTjauYEz-KyNGxiCdMkHxNPhCQ-W00Ju4pLRokK3MxpbqFhyphenhyphenrUXq_GVJdzieMLpDGo47rJQPy3Tq20wObKy2mmG_Bc3Hm_J7L3KWFYTVvlT1r5zCrPyRiQ16z8/s200/DSCF6470.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijT97GgWbVbTp2yNo5qUfG1HAjyPaZ2XBg3Y-cUEMdRGG4XVXygSOl0JS4MFkhE4YPubyE7G_QOIY6omoAylOKMsma2fbpVNyEqQLs98dd8QtGQ6wUOrCDFBQyZ38LwzQysjBdHFA3HBQ/s1600/DSCF6469.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551090760050992690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijT97GgWbVbTp2yNo5qUfG1HAjyPaZ2XBg3Y-cUEMdRGG4XVXygSOl0JS4MFkhE4YPubyE7G_QOIY6omoAylOKMsma2fbpVNyEqQLs98dd8QtGQ6wUOrCDFBQyZ38LwzQysjBdHFA3HBQ/s200/DSCF6469.JPG" /></a><br /><br />The living room is one of my favorite rooms. It seems to accept Christmas so gracefully.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Dn4BEeO2oQj6lEHSqsALBA5NARhVrnGL4ZbMeuEIJEW3-A_GWa1flKFyZJ3e0j51-SYLHjk3Va-PtKwkIBj1m6x26muzqHnDXdjBu9I3FAwEkWs0dtUFWokdrRjDvWe-PScq0TAnPxc/s1600/xmas+026.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550727708250148626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Dn4BEeO2oQj6lEHSqsALBA5NARhVrnGL4ZbMeuEIJEW3-A_GWa1flKFyZJ3e0j51-SYLHjk3Va-PtKwkIBj1m6x26muzqHnDXdjBu9I3FAwEkWs0dtUFWokdrRjDvWe-PScq0TAnPxc/s200/xmas+026.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0KCyAhtPX-UK61l0VCuIWFMPeqrECVHiyIi7yRzKuo7E45dX1QoeYYIGzN05tOiPfo04VVirHDZSOMpxFt05vfVcNcGNhShh99vT8JwU34MZ7wA3TaSzUvY_dymC594AL8u1EWGEv96Q/s1600/xmas+024.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550727462947259586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0KCyAhtPX-UK61l0VCuIWFMPeqrECVHiyIi7yRzKuo7E45dX1QoeYYIGzN05tOiPfo04VVirHDZSOMpxFt05vfVcNcGNhShh99vT8JwU34MZ7wA3TaSzUvY_dymC594AL8u1EWGEv96Q/s200/xmas+024.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_tsmc81ONdasdtukAbUf62VFbfImp5vkUDfYD_R98Gvl730gBRgrzh6X7l3-lDUZIix6-JvUX-3wsvKZABudhKYKERPR4XVhzj2C78kdF1xAqXftwVquD62WbmnNNcM3kwQ18inLJols/s1600/DSCF6466.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 150px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551090393710404210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_tsmc81ONdasdtukAbUf62VFbfImp5vkUDfYD_R98Gvl730gBRgrzh6X7l3-lDUZIix6-JvUX-3wsvKZABudhKYKERPR4XVhzj2C78kdF1xAqXftwVquD62WbmnNNcM3kwQ18inLJols/s200/DSCF6466.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Our traditional Frasier Fir.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmd_AgZoLYBWaVjeNNe5bY14yWhvriV44HzT2cPUnGN9V_0xhH2aBV4NmL3IGK5zz3oQgAhwTQ8RoonRstkduOS5d13Zz3T9Rzd7mY83eKqx_k1gYmhXXer4ECTY7U_Gew79H96rZmIU0/s1600/xmas+030.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 150px; HEIGHT: 200px" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550728084963872930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmd_AgZoLYBWaVjeNNe5bY14yWhvriV44HzT2cPUnGN9V_0xhH2aBV4NmL3IGK5zz3oQgAhwTQ8RoonRstkduOS5d13Zz3T9Rzd7mY83eKqx_k1gYmhXXer4ECTY7U_Gew79H96rZmIU0/s200/xmas+030.jpg" /></a><br /><br />For years the mantle <a href="http://40ishfannie.blogspot.com/2008/12/holiday-open-house.html">hosted the Santa Collection</a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLJXV1jVO8R2VQH1V1Y8N5iOgdh5E6RTD4aSsb1y16EPIlyu6UFqvLF0cvfX7u2Cow4rZYdWg057tT4EXEHy7CaOvMlK2i36Gqz-v3q2sfSi70vF-izmj9zi351bfH3jjrqP-642MzV_0/s1600/pic+120.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 180px" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550550132229941650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLJXV1jVO8R2VQH1V1Y8N5iOgdh5E6RTD4aSsb1y16EPIlyu6UFqvLF0cvfX7u2Cow4rZYdWg057tT4EXEHy7CaOvMlK2i36Gqz-v3q2sfSi70vF-izmj9zi351bfH3jjrqP-642MzV_0/s200/pic+120.jpg" /></a><br /><br />But take a closer look...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh5BSTHkpMQhZu8usB3ShMHDSyZc4dylGW79SmAzjI8wynzCFdgn6dka688iJchethXp7ZYcRnim5j94b_HXr7jpB727JSBFWSogTGipfd2H4xogTU6I5bVB6AI5dgHS8fdobAJlLmGSo/s1600/pic+083.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 154px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550957150996697650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh5BSTHkpMQhZu8usB3ShMHDSyZc4dylGW79SmAzjI8wynzCFdgn6dka688iJchethXp7ZYcRnim5j94b_HXr7jpB727JSBFWSogTGipfd2H4xogTU6I5bVB6AI5dgHS8fdobAJlLmGSo/s200/pic+083.jpg" /></a><br /><br />intermingling of the species!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYVPLYCmTRDPYf76-zflO_53mqpWa2nvO423p2laXTX4gPUYh7pRStNE6HOH_OlcMt95RkeIs34s4tkbqNlw20fuwE_7UWCZXuwDAqe5HanewoE-mVjcS6-d_nttxRMEfGsrlvtpEStp4/s1600/pic+081.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 166px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550956766624106658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYVPLYCmTRDPYf76-zflO_53mqpWa2nvO423p2laXTX4gPUYh7pRStNE6HOH_OlcMt95RkeIs34s4tkbqNlw20fuwE_7UWCZXuwDAqe5HanewoE-mVjcS6-d_nttxRMEfGsrlvtpEStp4/s200/pic+081.jpg" /></a><br /><br />A selection of some of my favorite children's Christmas books.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0waBCVCzCngZbi3PEpdRWS_8eVKZVkALrP0HZ4a0lirVza1JARgsHx3jTk1Rs-LNct3AFw5dOdGi7GbdKwMoygl9ZTjvGO9Dg_GJRoCvEkaj4KxlEDz_CzW_1SJnnOeiFzH5dECS5_0Q/s1600/xmas+033.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 150px; HEIGHT: 200px" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550728336042567474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0waBCVCzCngZbi3PEpdRWS_8eVKZVkALrP0HZ4a0lirVza1JARgsHx3jTk1Rs-LNct3AFw5dOdGi7GbdKwMoygl9ZTjvGO9Dg_GJRoCvEkaj4KxlEDz_CzW_1SJnnOeiFzH5dECS5_0Q/s200/xmas+033.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhF9w03ztsdj9Y8t9SVhK4at4D2ltlV7HPhypmEJ1fK9KOvA8p_v_jVjM4nScIRMiUnP7RnloTiUkVPmB3I-eUgZATbEpYUPmNky3JF45fNcxixJLKq9ybSA86VdtGkro8iGqtpvs2QeU/s1600/DSCF6462.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551090132654857522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhF9w03ztsdj9Y8t9SVhK4at4D2ltlV7HPhypmEJ1fK9KOvA8p_v_jVjM4nScIRMiUnP7RnloTiUkVPmB3I-eUgZATbEpYUPmNky3JF45fNcxixJLKq9ybSA86VdtGkro8iGqtpvs2QeU/s200/DSCF6462.JPG" /></a><br /><br />I had a small dinner last night. I took these when I was getting set up.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2yQP64LSslXKGo5IUzP5WYGXBQR4qSoH7FnZorkjGN2npjs81lpmiS9BnFbnVxslQPPiyLGZrPZamMKG3sQMMVLfRXwkAom3e6csioQcrnfJoXBttQxrM_h1EwIOpFKgjfRHsPgirmrs/s1600/xmas+019.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550726800432812786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2yQP64LSslXKGo5IUzP5WYGXBQR4qSoH7FnZorkjGN2npjs81lpmiS9BnFbnVxslQPPiyLGZrPZamMKG3sQMMVLfRXwkAom3e6csioQcrnfJoXBttQxrM_h1EwIOpFKgjfRHsPgirmrs/s200/xmas+019.jpg" /></a><br /><br />I should get something up abut that soon.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5P_tNQDrm9Gd8f-oafQeAn4Z7NPN7IAQ8mGBTLsiuLOT-q3ZTM_iPX6VkNkrqTaBAab4-NyVY1-GI4RIws9VEQ2HpwGbFYiM69PEJhwrkZyMB4QyunQWvE9IfbJ5OTF8ARJwBv1mDVRk/s1600/xmas+021.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550727167188426162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5P_tNQDrm9Gd8f-oafQeAn4Z7NPN7IAQ8mGBTLsiuLOT-q3ZTM_iPX6VkNkrqTaBAab4-NyVY1-GI4RIws9VEQ2HpwGbFYiM69PEJhwrkZyMB4QyunQWvE9IfbJ5OTF8ARJwBv1mDVRk/s200/xmas+021.jpg" /></a><br /><br />The family room historically hosted <a href="http://40ishfannie.blogspot.com/2009/12/holiday-open-house.html">the Snowmen</a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd_GusuP2UXOgtCHzivvmPAQ9pnSyWpdEhu9U1cswW9xpc5kuFNedo2ppHiLMEksCNxGDG3iRFR9UMU4U0PjzFG-Vz3NbNKGp3U33khBIBzbKVFJVb1t8Gm9tiSIshpDZOzW2faGCZ_ok/s1600/pic+112.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 158px" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550554801620514994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd_GusuP2UXOgtCHzivvmPAQ9pnSyWpdEhu9U1cswW9xpc5kuFNedo2ppHiLMEksCNxGDG3iRFR9UMU4U0PjzFG-Vz3NbNKGp3U33khBIBzbKVFJVb1t8Gm9tiSIshpDZOzW2faGCZ_ok/s200/pic+112.jpg" /></a><br /><br />But yes!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBNgISrBft_jgPSPVei0EUaTiA8u4U7xBSUqd-sTIfDKsFaYruWPFnZHz6ADjD6GjrAHZRuzHd_tNp1fKDPK6DUZ0EmQm4uDY-wWz6_BZ1daGwuxiPVK0kDirDfQPKu6f7ZxKa6wUV87c/s1600/pic+113.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 186px" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550554413207178162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBNgISrBft_jgPSPVei0EUaTiA8u4U7xBSUqd-sTIfDKsFaYruWPFnZHz6ADjD6GjrAHZRuzHd_tNp1fKDPK6DUZ0EmQm4uDY-wWz6_BZ1daGwuxiPVK0kDirDfQPKu6f7ZxKa6wUV87c/s200/pic+113.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Look at me and the co-mingling!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicx0D1DAhBiijPnPhev5gLhXTe7g2bonWr8Q3bPW2JdVsro8lafMbNxgEGXZWtLJ7rB913rKQ5WXvzIHo9skCLTFp-Itz0VubJKEQAlC7oNRp-qKxIx8LpqGwQ2L8V0bfzM-gjUvJPDcU/s1600/pic+116.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550550571185827922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicx0D1DAhBiijPnPhev5gLhXTe7g2bonWr8Q3bPW2JdVsro8lafMbNxgEGXZWtLJ7rB913rKQ5WXvzIHo9skCLTFp-Itz0VubJKEQAlC7oNRp-qKxIx8LpqGwQ2L8V0bfzM-gjUvJPDcU/s200/pic+116.jpg" /></a><br /><br />This guy is new, a gift last year from a co-worker.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX4NOvOT-Zyux1uLl9BVyaf3hZ9jeyAVzgK3isR-ge3FfHbUYw3DXrpSysjFlBEP2TaxCNrRHkYrfjODVrR7GCg9cKBpD8xba1KPafd8oGagKgHGJegl7IS2eLF1gTh3-QHd33wMrXUho/s1600/pic+118.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 154px; HEIGHT: 200px" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550555074585847074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX4NOvOT-Zyux1uLl9BVyaf3hZ9jeyAVzgK3isR-ge3FfHbUYw3DXrpSysjFlBEP2TaxCNrRHkYrfjODVrR7GCg9cKBpD8xba1KPafd8oGagKgHGJegl7IS2eLF1gTh3-QHd33wMrXUho/s200/pic+118.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Hell, even the bathrooms get dolled up.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN0taYSUjF7tbQcTV77UDRpwkRg5TwTE9Knf1c2GrTHlxeue3GZeCEyqdQGW9h5j0AdtzrwLidaKL1zojiaf8cz_ej_AA009leyqcSxGVZI_3rne7RaWEf4WVGtc7FFi5lq3weqFsJ-Ss/s1600/xmas+036.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 150px; HEIGHT: 200px" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550728709315799922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN0taYSUjF7tbQcTV77UDRpwkRg5TwTE9Knf1c2GrTHlxeue3GZeCEyqdQGW9h5j0AdtzrwLidaKL1zojiaf8cz_ej_AA009leyqcSxGVZI_3rne7RaWEf4WVGtc7FFi5lq3weqFsJ-Ss/s200/xmas+036.jpg" /></a><br /><br />The sunroom looks pretty even at night.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAQ27QPdMsBCPWARE6RU_Lau-bBn3L-p_miHoBgN5rWn8gR13ionwYq9o_6LUzs8tALZBEk0qvS9elT0eJGx-g5sxqIY1END6giP2oJwAMZiEWtf_FFhaRLbt8P2BSofl4LfL0iKAwBI8/s1600/DSCF6475.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 144px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551091384937292066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAQ27QPdMsBCPWARE6RU_Lau-bBn3L-p_miHoBgN5rWn8gR13ionwYq9o_6LUzs8tALZBEk0qvS9elT0eJGx-g5sxqIY1END6giP2oJwAMZiEWtf_FFhaRLbt8P2BSofl4LfL0iKAwBI8/s200/DSCF6475.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Now I'm off to explore all the other Holiday Home Tours! Merry Christmas!!!!Fanniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13256873494991946979noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093237880290981781.post-34205433667503858352010-12-15T16:13:00.001-06:002010-12-15T16:16:04.034-06:00Can I Just Say?That among his many talents, The Saint makes one hell of a great Manhattan.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirFM35B5-MWsh-OfUJzlr3i9gslY1etIhEEkWcQPixhZssxigApa_kMqFhFnvkmJqAY52DZEMAFDVWdIzfjlBtlXVKz9JaJrsunYOzl3WtqTCssi3uQ3wiXERi0rMPh51cdyLGH2KZB2k/s1600/DSCF6405.jpg"><img style="width: 135px; height: 200px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550553541909811378" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirFM35B5-MWsh-OfUJzlr3i9gslY1etIhEEkWcQPixhZssxigApa_kMqFhFnvkmJqAY52DZEMAFDVWdIzfjlBtlXVKz9JaJrsunYOzl3WtqTCssi3uQ3wiXERi0rMPh51cdyLGH2KZB2k/s200/DSCF6405.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I'm just sayin'.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJdiPVBIfxOJcU5oFXapM0jQYtPV4pdZx0L1brPMkUUK22jSCP9gOCrb0xHcP_G__sr-R2epVPobyBhYklcLMa4KJAhnFT7RDB3xLijCs55J33-tumTCoT_tvjCR7CC3Kftv6DBR1YyAI/s1600/DSCF6407a.jpg"><img style="width: 116px; height: 200px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550553671380706626" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJdiPVBIfxOJcU5oFXapM0jQYtPV4pdZx0L1brPMkUUK22jSCP9gOCrb0xHcP_G__sr-R2epVPobyBhYklcLMa4KJAhnFT7RDB3xLijCs55J33-tumTCoT_tvjCR7CC3Kftv6DBR1YyAI/s200/DSCF6407a.jpg" border="0" /></a>Fanniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13256873494991946979noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093237880290981781.post-88456396127127717292010-12-09T13:45:00.001-06:002010-12-09T14:16:23.903-06:00It's Beginning to Smell a lot Like ChristmasA few weekends ago I took a trip to one of my favorite nurseries. The staff is helpful and knowledgeable. The quality of the flowers, roses, bulbs, shrubs, trees - you name - it is second to none. And they have the most amazing home and garden decorative section with wonderful holiday and seasonal items.<br /><br />Now, while they have many beautiful and unique items, I rarely purchase anything because they tend to be priced just beyond what I'm willing to pay for a wreath or garland or garden ornament or...well, you get the picture.<br /><br />At any rate, while I was there I browsed through the home decor section. I spied a pretty scented candle and took a sniff. Heaven. I picked it up, and put back down, about half a dozen times. The fragrance was amazing but at $24.99 - yes, <span style="font-size:180%;">$24.99!!!</span> it seemed an extravagant price for what was not an overly large candle.<br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPw-7ZPjcnGoUOfbRI5lgDKpibC8PwiJQy3zpqS0dMrdYh6umYTR7vSO_eZeuYTA5BEcEa5h7Ksoc_WM2-6qaq3okuhAZVIhB8nhprCipU4NZEXo2bqNVWVtI5vBdJpQJ5rv0kG-PZmBE/s1600/candle+001.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547995996371770770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPw-7ZPjcnGoUOfbRI5lgDKpibC8PwiJQy3zpqS0dMrdYh6umYTR7vSO_eZeuYTA5BEcEa5h7Ksoc_WM2-6qaq3okuhAZVIhB8nhprCipU4NZEXo2bqNVWVtI5vBdJpQJ5rv0kG-PZmBE/s200/candle+001.jpg" /></a></p><br />Yet, as you might surmise for the photograph, I did indeed purchase the <a href="http://www.thymes.com/ProductDetail.aspx?nodeid=57576&parentnodeid=57131&productid=57550">Thymes "Fasier Fir" scented candle</a>. People you have no idea. It smells exactly like a freshly cut fir tree. Subtle, but distinct. A smell that says "Christmas" to me like none other.<br /><br />What does your Christmas smell like?Fanniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13256873494991946979noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093237880290981781.post-15466700790740614062010-12-02T01:48:00.002-06:002010-12-02T01:48:00.583-06:00Thanksgiving In Pictures, Part 2<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tMf3pQ2dkqkhSvvVDXULc4uRLbuMqyJ8y0-ffCzeg05iN94otmepJbHTKgo0nlwaLjkXKof0FA5PrAP72Fn8N7R2jpFA0B2ipLTHKN-IwuwSO1VhjMbYDscE6yMaGtmJaebybOTHIhM/s1600/DSC_0131.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545388798257824258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tMf3pQ2dkqkhSvvVDXULc4uRLbuMqyJ8y0-ffCzeg05iN94otmepJbHTKgo0nlwaLjkXKof0FA5PrAP72Fn8N7R2jpFA0B2ipLTHKN-IwuwSO1VhjMbYDscE6yMaGtmJaebybOTHIhM/s200/DSC_0131.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSf4kJmLXbHkVuii53MKEmYScnGlqTO37FQWh_sRZlbUyn1Jne6GCW-E5ofBQS2A_WIFHswLFOXTucwQadSuJ2FJ99yM1v0VOx9Xy6QiJOMP-kYDHFiCIXp5iMHRpS8Xjgtp147wI-10U/s1600/DSC_0090.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545388580587381010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSf4kJmLXbHkVuii53MKEmYScnGlqTO37FQWh_sRZlbUyn1Jne6GCW-E5ofBQS2A_WIFHswLFOXTucwQadSuJ2FJ99yM1v0VOx9Xy6QiJOMP-kYDHFiCIXp5iMHRpS8Xjgtp147wI-10U/s200/DSC_0090.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPcUlhlAZ58LwjMgu7-WBti6SxIszh2wVcEjyObl2FgdhJTlvN7DiZtQCht24ADFCDDxJm_WvIP8EfyF2tbDU4l4C9WBD8WvBA1ceQBPjWfwPvbbj_uWsVbJ4XEjdqRsOnaanjYpSRiFc/s1600/DSC_0137.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545388693290503234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPcUlhlAZ58LwjMgu7-WBti6SxIszh2wVcEjyObl2FgdhJTlvN7DiZtQCht24ADFCDDxJm_WvIP8EfyF2tbDU4l4C9WBD8WvBA1ceQBPjWfwPvbbj_uWsVbJ4XEjdqRsOnaanjYpSRiFc/s200/DSC_0137.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2qhNUk1siMSe6TNXrvNjVNgAFphc6LzN0tl70iBQ4D4LV_SQmsATw0FCe7pTWzxQ21okoBE5C3tKoyo3kQn0dNF6ENcr2s79ZDUepwTFPZxAoNL2_XH9ltMPl_KGOqZTFROp_HCselO8/s1600/DSC_0059.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545388324471769570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2qhNUk1siMSe6TNXrvNjVNgAFphc6LzN0tl70iBQ4D4LV_SQmsATw0FCe7pTWzxQ21okoBE5C3tKoyo3kQn0dNF6ENcr2s79ZDUepwTFPZxAoNL2_XH9ltMPl_KGOqZTFROp_HCselO8/s200/DSC_0059.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1AZASH9vcn0mLrdcfD544JsVDIC0UrdRg4j5l34i_EKcGOxWG88UlNlM2iTNC5eMKQpc3DBOVzYCj3aIc2OOyj26xhz_X-BnvLTxJNPJJzZThP3Qd1bvWbxHJPG5KrXax0GazbBM8h1s/s1600/DSC_0077.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545388457282394322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1AZASH9vcn0mLrdcfD544JsVDIC0UrdRg4j5l34i_EKcGOxWG88UlNlM2iTNC5eMKQpc3DBOVzYCj3aIc2OOyj26xhz_X-BnvLTxJNPJJzZThP3Qd1bvWbxHJPG5KrXax0GazbBM8h1s/s200/DSC_0077.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXKaxh4DJD5hY9zD9TPpEX504cJFPKpTH7aALgFft09Q9rw97U9ZgGXtvUicu3vfoFR5DPBan7qX18NX0wVcoCkhLgSTxQxS6gA9sfCIIeeLtG2Yx5eOT2C6o4zjc3bC2fJwkk0jguqIk/s1600/DSC_0047.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 134px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545387998407818882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXKaxh4DJD5hY9zD9TPpEX504cJFPKpTH7aALgFft09Q9rw97U9ZgGXtvUicu3vfoFR5DPBan7qX18NX0wVcoCkhLgSTxQxS6gA9sfCIIeeLtG2Yx5eOT2C6o4zjc3bC2fJwkk0jguqIk/s200/DSC_0047.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxwg_ILdqG4JZqgcPFC1PuxBqjB_NLaU99TXvp4G_WAwQ0U9asrNEkIweuAFGWJNuCX896gOsqFOGcXmlaabi75SBYAJyaZLAUAd5BKLhxlhY2QSbBykg6GXPFsDEhE384ojeT2Yi2cxk/s1600/DSC_0041.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 181px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545387769775181394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxwg_ILdqG4JZqgcPFC1PuxBqjB_NLaU99TXvp4G_WAwQ0U9asrNEkIweuAFGWJNuCX896gOsqFOGcXmlaabi75SBYAJyaZLAUAd5BKLhxlhY2QSbBykg6GXPFsDEhE384ojeT2Yi2cxk/s200/DSC_0041.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq7_3nLaLHnQD4VHj4f8iVTrggWn6JGmDkfmkb5uZwORGO9KRTcMngZDDIpFggSy3WpVJcKP7mGlW8TEKBmgfzX_hzfGR_JcnPOItkSYxVIFKR8_2Zi-NGW9-uwRzvw_cXJTdCJgWoCKk/s1600/DSC_0024.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545387594423102338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq7_3nLaLHnQD4VHj4f8iVTrggWn6JGmDkfmkb5uZwORGO9KRTcMngZDDIpFggSy3WpVJcKP7mGlW8TEKBmgfzX_hzfGR_JcnPOItkSYxVIFKR8_2Zi-NGW9-uwRzvw_cXJTdCJgWoCKk/s200/DSC_0024.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW45YUts0sh2ZNH8NpSyoi_GqWrZS05w1iAdjtEUKf6zuqefTgCbS8lUy7EqeYF2QUIV2p5BQOb0ZcV7WNQb8Z7ngXKQ2ALsqaFMvXKdKpMr_P9iUhekQdWz1DYXKiFXIaGmPln1lmlao/s1600/DSC_0044.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545387865230391778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW45YUts0sh2ZNH8NpSyoi_GqWrZS05w1iAdjtEUKf6zuqefTgCbS8lUy7EqeYF2QUIV2p5BQOb0ZcV7WNQb8Z7ngXKQ2ALsqaFMvXKdKpMr_P9iUhekQdWz1DYXKiFXIaGmPln1lmlao/s200/DSC_0044.jpg" /></a>Fanniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13256873494991946979noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093237880290981781.post-51251339084372091602010-11-30T15:01:00.002-06:002010-11-30T15:01:00.759-06:00Everything's More Fun with Babies!My brother and his wife are very brave. They took a four hour plane ride to come for Thanksgiving with their two and a half year-old sons.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKtIxw5pXJBdoW-4lEE_-1Qux1r34ouz7eC86NggE_svqJRTiyW-I5Pe63_I4noha2TW184cM9eET8irmqo7lW6tffyGS3poC3H1fSQPh5m_bx1Z3FA__ATUpXTNF1SkMcDJYokeOpO9k/s1600/DSC_0052.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545362650710836946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKtIxw5pXJBdoW-4lEE_-1Qux1r34ouz7eC86NggE_svqJRTiyW-I5Pe63_I4noha2TW184cM9eET8irmqo7lW6tffyGS3poC3H1fSQPh5m_bx1Z3FA__ATUpXTNF1SkMcDJYokeOpO9k/s200/DSC_0052.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH2lVqywzgk6ISwUw1BuS_fWBA0QM4YqfriZxD3AMw1XfJ23L_0RYXUxpgOxigPX17ECbtRhSHdSFm2imgty7YGmCYG-3k1fSlxhhJLNofquw2ESogW4jKKpm5DEMhUdAPP9t1msQxKVM/s1600/DSC_0054.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545362553615099170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH2lVqywzgk6ISwUw1BuS_fWBA0QM4YqfriZxD3AMw1XfJ23L_0RYXUxpgOxigPX17ECbtRhSHdSFm2imgty7YGmCYG-3k1fSlxhhJLNofquw2ESogW4jKKpm5DEMhUdAPP9t1msQxKVM/s200/DSC_0054.jpg" /></a><br /><br />I got in a BUNCH of trouble for getting up from dinner to fix PB&J's, <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuSM80kFIgFHK6KfzvARcV6lJKodw2pH8GW6WKToyzr2-gmcorrKqdgP2IVG2p201A1eLJ5jgk8-NCpycWK9C6x68ks_RY-mMTH4pPSvJmXgQrrPgTOt9829HjzGx8Z65Cma6MuszNP2g/s1600/DSC_0116.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 170px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545080035173283250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuSM80kFIgFHK6KfzvARcV6lJKodw2pH8GW6WKToyzr2-gmcorrKqdgP2IVG2p201A1eLJ5jgk8-NCpycWK9C6x68ks_RY-mMTH4pPSvJmXgQrrPgTOt9829HjzGx8Z65Cma6MuszNP2g/s200/DSC_0116.jpg" /></a><br /><br />but they didn't seem too interested in what WE were eating.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvUGIkzYqAerzJyAG7dY0Vr2Vu7gYBk7_MzFi5u4jFs2bZOkqqLWVO8uvGMUB-fZa2DPpuKpsPRzuPXO1a1Lz9u0uzbOzLutZXufkeRw_iPN7TCyru8IOxED1y6TrPjkm2EXFPy2rngY/s1600/DSC_0114.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545079925938902274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvUGIkzYqAerzJyAG7dY0Vr2Vu7gYBk7_MzFi5u4jFs2bZOkqqLWVO8uvGMUB-fZa2DPpuKpsPRzuPXO1a1Lz9u0uzbOzLutZXufkeRw_iPN7TCyru8IOxED1y6TrPjkm2EXFPy2rngY/s200/DSC_0114.jpg" /></a><br /><br />They are very energetic<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQyglvBNHwXytkMInkgpeVAAyQWPo4yFQHQlMTLh7ph9Y5LzjEhYmZrJCrdBSRbLLvK4gM6Bxb-E0Hks_4oAHiHccNTOQ9RDv4H1icRuzbV116pAGV5pY2GddylyDVXF_VIBHcY_Ty7tw/s1600/DSC_0151.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545082454762924818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQyglvBNHwXytkMInkgpeVAAyQWPo4yFQHQlMTLh7ph9Y5LzjEhYmZrJCrdBSRbLLvK4gM6Bxb-E0Hks_4oAHiHccNTOQ9RDv4H1icRuzbV116pAGV5pY2GddylyDVXF_VIBHcY_Ty7tw/s200/DSC_0151.jpg" /></a> and HIGHLY entertaining<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQyglvBNHwXytkMInkgpeVAAyQWPo4yFQHQlMTLh7ph9Y5LzjEhYmZrJCrdBSRbLLvK4gM6Bxb-E0Hks_4oAHiHccNTOQ9RDv4H1icRuzbV116pAGV5pY2GddylyDVXF_VIBHcY_Ty7tw/s1600/DSC_0151.jpg"></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGoiwK6im_jPV_Wi9mpXBihCtvDjuziiCVIKjC6NTmzM60DnZ5iZqoLlSLa8T9fwffJaSDq4OF94ZAZH3oUxMGkqtkgxrEHfn4uum7bfFVRFjtH0P_CKo6uRnq6KrWgYuBPSTJ8zRogSY/s1600/DSC_0147.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545082020464188658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGoiwK6im_jPV_Wi9mpXBihCtvDjuziiCVIKjC6NTmzM60DnZ5iZqoLlSLa8T9fwffJaSDq4OF94ZAZH3oUxMGkqtkgxrEHfn4uum7bfFVRFjtH0P_CKo6uRnq6KrWgYuBPSTJ8zRogSY/s200/DSC_0147.jpg" /></a><br /><br />The boys were very interested in the dog but a bit timid.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTNWtTU6udQ9uJkNX3NOS7MehrqeoHAiW6VIqfdd-iNEzJrXAXXlTqURii2IdEPoKo456BTeIA93aPArBcJ9i2UHqDBHahhPzuUgic0AmSEsGvB6gzLojWdG2mtBvDJny_8dwzh0zFYaA/s1600/DSC_0143.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545081268296659954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTNWtTU6udQ9uJkNX3NOS7MehrqeoHAiW6VIqfdd-iNEzJrXAXXlTqURii2IdEPoKo456BTeIA93aPArBcJ9i2UHqDBHahhPzuUgic0AmSEsGvB6gzLojWdG2mtBvDJny_8dwzh0zFYaA/s200/DSC_0143.jpg" /></a><br /><br />But once they go the hang of patting gently<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545081423379954594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQtihnwpO7u1ilqUGqtov2btI8ZTCEiNqRuVniQn21f705hEGfnQEyLLPHsv9oFGlNrCdpm4EdYqkUd1NBgsxMaZVybJSfyBCoXwpZ70KWHRHi91wS8twHsQiy55R6S4XoOxwlfk2y5RQ/s200/DSC_0139.jpg" /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQjJvBPFsFwWUxMDzemc9Yp7cWm_AVzWiNcXElyvZC25wMtDUmIMF-ur-bxcNMN3SccAtJnpAvMYzxx6u2emXxXYxIlbCP46TgqimRYPKCtXd1i8Re6ENztKoYztZbvA-bXISagbPZME/s1600/DSC_0144.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545081122439941970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQjJvBPFsFwWUxMDzemc9Yp7cWm_AVzWiNcXElyvZC25wMtDUmIMF-ur-bxcNMN3SccAtJnpAvMYzxx6u2emXxXYxIlbCP46TgqimRYPKCtXd1i8Re6ENztKoYztZbvA-bXISagbPZME/s200/DSC_0144.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Kisses were next!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQsocFlaC2BwdkrsYdsAJaursh1P_Kom7HYlqbAX-EphcsvHpjPk04FW05-I01XVt_f8WStfwSGnuIPbYmEp4eRI4Cly89PSYTeY36CSvUZhwHH-7AR3dNJbhO3X9R0MtdIykWq3IG2o/s1600/DSC_0145.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545080980013912450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQsocFlaC2BwdkrsYdsAJaursh1P_Kom7HYlqbAX-EphcsvHpjPk04FW05-I01XVt_f8WStfwSGnuIPbYmEp4eRI4Cly89PSYTeY36CSvUZhwHH-7AR3dNJbhO3X9R0MtdIykWq3IG2o/s200/DSC_0145.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Can I say borrowed babies are especially precious?Fanniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13256873494991946979noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093237880290981781.post-19732216881929636412010-11-29T14:37:00.012-06:002010-11-29T15:30:24.862-06:00Thanksgiving in PicturesTurkey with stuffing, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes with gravy, cranberry sauce, creamed onions, brussel sprouts, FOUR kinds of pie. Marvelous.<br />We were twenty for dinner plus the twins. My sisters helped with prep<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiba_in6A4vgX58ZWsjmCXbNgyaWSaaV-Q0R4pWCRukYusa8CEPhmhHFDLIhT2krD9J90VD3nf_WE3KQg7GW3uDmQ5nAYdH84ZRfWaAhgh2xeg7Ud8h81EvRQEl8akYy7SAYo1Te-Sok_M/s1600/DSC_0065.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545075331805154914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiba_in6A4vgX58ZWsjmCXbNgyaWSaaV-Q0R4pWCRukYusa8CEPhmhHFDLIhT2krD9J90VD3nf_WE3KQg7GW3uDmQ5nAYdH84ZRfWaAhgh2xeg7Ud8h81EvRQEl8akYy7SAYo1Te-Sok_M/s200/DSC_0065.jpg" /></a><br />Sib #2 made forty eight crescent rolls fit on two pans. It is a talent I assure you.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7onOQG6XYxP02vTsnSeze2FMbLEbQzIo81OvzihSLfPehrr9bAB0CLmNHMsKgla_YSMOdarJm1KvCGgo52rFGQjfdNIrB-mjyVgKPolD1sfuxZA5fjdaJmjzK97_aGKqyCjuNPOAOoI4/s1600/DSC_0073.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545075169741752610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7onOQG6XYxP02vTsnSeze2FMbLEbQzIo81OvzihSLfPehrr9bAB0CLmNHMsKgla_YSMOdarJm1KvCGgo52rFGQjfdNIrB-mjyVgKPolD1sfuxZA5fjdaJmjzK97_aGKqyCjuNPOAOoI4/s200/DSC_0073.jpg" /></a> Sib #3 helped me peel TEN FREAKING POUNDS of potatoes. We LOVE mashed potatoes!<br /><br />He doesn't look like a twenty-two-pounder does he?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL3Etae4APBNgW-FvZSlSNihxokTmKnFEh75dBD8p861PsoyfIXxvqxBrTwOYS962hyphenhyphenMqTvj4okzm93AZ9Uwhwwy0YsUP9bQkEbvz_vXAqnIVyBeffkzso1BGFRBG4077CFvNWeT6QhdU/s1600/DSC_0068.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545075050640275330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL3Etae4APBNgW-FvZSlSNihxokTmKnFEh75dBD8p861PsoyfIXxvqxBrTwOYS962hyphenhyphenMqTvj4okzm93AZ9Uwhwwy0YsUP9bQkEbvz_vXAqnIVyBeffkzso1BGFRBG4077CFvNWeT6QhdU/s200/DSC_0068.jpg" /></a> He got some help from an additional turkey breast and I spent a great deal of time looking for more dishes.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXWoXTyIXYb0NSrFgzTwt9KFEWz_2eDS7-o89bYkpBloNFUJbqeU7KO7XA0A7b4HTXuxPJKrAWw99W1Vtx2u7k8zyW6pPlMvET-AmvEBuZfSdh1LT_Emi-5ID0CubZSF31D8SmCI2wDM/s1600/DSC_0062.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545074848881218754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXWoXTyIXYb0NSrFgzTwt9KFEWz_2eDS7-o89bYkpBloNFUJbqeU7KO7XA0A7b4HTXuxPJKrAWw99W1Vtx2u7k8zyW6pPlMvET-AmvEBuZfSdh1LT_Emi-5ID0CubZSF31D8SmCI2wDM/s200/DSC_0062.jpg" /></a> The Saint spent a great deal of time opening wine.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimoXdlTxoe1OGDqJl7WrPQD9hgtUI096WJIaYI5QbAGmc6r4ceur6qcFdR0i4KlqyNiROux1P0A0Th5g8JURRF83uJGB1J3uZuyHLLpk8OPYtkfuYOsMBjUI1ywF31T02z0c1Mqk9aSQQ/s1600/DSC_0078.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545074566680666562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimoXdlTxoe1OGDqJl7WrPQD9hgtUI096WJIaYI5QbAGmc6r4ceur6qcFdR0i4KlqyNiROux1P0A0Th5g8JURRF83uJGB1J3uZuyHLLpk8OPYtkfuYOsMBjUI1ywF31T02z0c1Mqk9aSQQ/s200/DSC_0078.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZczszCvFWmlGXQDSHqcEqNqlOMWVBK0DggpzyaygLXguK2ONAFdCcND6b2AYhKIDOWKa5ZlqtZ3-jrpjG2DX0e92BFtMyn2EbcCmbQPyTYAETaHk3rHkOmPutuh3lwvt8Fghn7h0KROI/s1600/DSC_0092.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545074444378927538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZczszCvFWmlGXQDSHqcEqNqlOMWVBK0DggpzyaygLXguK2ONAFdCcND6b2AYhKIDOWKa5ZlqtZ3-jrpjG2DX0e92BFtMyn2EbcCmbQPyTYAETaHk3rHkOmPutuh3lwvt8Fghn7h0KROI/s200/DSC_0092.jpg" /></a><br />Everyone else?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsOuXi1DyoR_Imq8ULSS986trofONN-Q05Ytog2vxDgD-qkOiZsQoxxp8ovl3Coh7udfXVHDIJB2TQ3zEkXYxnJtvWmS6aa97up39700nr93wSBbvjvUZwqGIj-UGnPa9KqoXI-dE-trc/s1600/DSC_0098.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545074220162193106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsOuXi1DyoR_Imq8ULSS986trofONN-Q05Ytog2vxDgD-qkOiZsQoxxp8ovl3Coh7udfXVHDIJB2TQ3zEkXYxnJtvWmS6aa97up39700nr93wSBbvjvUZwqGIj-UGnPa9KqoXI-dE-trc/s200/DSC_0098.jpg" /></a> Spent a great deal of time<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghtmok5G659LvY1pWjzk2qjWHTwarmcMjCDzUZyvQZy9Nwq29bXM06OiX9YCfMUphl-uLjb8q7VKS5VmvrDjT_FrGFmKLdzFaRrIfxz9pKg-r8WbfgeO6gdEriaHR0iYVaoNCAZtUPxBA/s1600/DSC_0103.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545074015827188370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghtmok5G659LvY1pWjzk2qjWHTwarmcMjCDzUZyvQZy9Nwq29bXM06OiX9YCfMUphl-uLjb8q7VKS5VmvrDjT_FrGFmKLdzFaRrIfxz9pKg-r8WbfgeO6gdEriaHR0iYVaoNCAZtUPxBA/s200/DSC_0103.jpg" /></a><br />Enjoying the wine!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbEfBA-y43_V7xoPERa4hvVR6ciThUnBBt6YGJOu9R4J1ISdPOgqJtywbnveI2B6P4TYxoJs8luDD2aMUakI8ddWkxKgev6y3Uwlos0zFAJAACbnNFp3ZxjPAAOwT-rfJEiH2okqzzr7Q/s1600/DSC_0104.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545073889262310050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbEfBA-y43_V7xoPERa4hvVR6ciThUnBBt6YGJOu9R4J1ISdPOgqJtywbnveI2B6P4TYxoJs8luDD2aMUakI8ddWkxKgev6y3Uwlos0zFAJAACbnNFp3ZxjPAAOwT-rfJEiH2okqzzr7Q/s200/DSC_0104.jpg" /></a> All in all a very satisfactory meal!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQO13FmqpUAKL8k6c4YJpn-9LqlWyr64DehOJC7NdC8uEmTivtuhkFs3nzNhBic5jY8oJfEWKRrlsZ_UEVeJaPnNccz3WfPervI7EEoV45KAAB3YoG4zNIfWeKu27nt4AgZtTfHC_a24w/s1600/DSC_0119.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 172px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545073769079038002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQO13FmqpUAKL8k6c4YJpn-9LqlWyr64DehOJC7NdC8uEmTivtuhkFs3nzNhBic5jY8oJfEWKRrlsZ_UEVeJaPnNccz3WfPervI7EEoV45KAAB3YoG4zNIfWeKu27nt4AgZtTfHC_a24w/s200/DSC_0119.jpg" /></a>Fanniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13256873494991946979noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093237880290981781.post-92008559847059738332010-11-12T14:48:00.004-06:002010-11-12T14:48:00.687-06:00Is It Monday?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHiQzPYLkOr5MxGVJmoQRIMmjLmSPReB7s1b5cNI_yw-nVg7UVUJ8rNUgBshUeSbbSlrZDyCnFj5lmTMUV_5KXERkbM1hyqZtSFJuEykr4ex4hR-00NRU7j6ZwA2jjVjZ_mzUqzhH25tw/s1600/Water+bottle.png"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 130px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538397071528599282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHiQzPYLkOr5MxGVJmoQRIMmjLmSPReB7s1b5cNI_yw-nVg7UVUJ8rNUgBshUeSbbSlrZDyCnFj5lmTMUV_5KXERkbM1hyqZtSFJuEykr4ex4hR-00NRU7j6ZwA2jjVjZ_mzUqzhH25tw/s200/Water+bottle.png" /></a><br />I bring a water bottle to work every day as the only water options in my building are:<br /><br /><br />A. Buy Bottled<br />or<br />B. Drinking Fountain with Dubious Plumbing<br /><br />This morning I threw the bottle in my work bag and headed to the office. When I pulled the water bottle out of the bag to stick it in the fridge it was only two thirds full. That’s when I noticed the lid hadn’t been screwed on quite tight enough. So I did. Screw it on tight enough.<br /><br />Another person might have had a warning bell go off in their head at this point. I, however, did not. (Bejesus it's been a busy week!) It wasn't until LATER that I remembered my digital camera had ALSO been thrown in the bag at some point this week.<br /><br />GGGGAAAAAHHHH! Water + Digital Camera = Tragedy of Epic Proportion!<br /><br />I began frantically rummaging through my bag pulling out soggy file folders, damp receipts and a very moist paperback. And yes, the camera. However, while dewy, the camera appears to be in good working order.<br /><br />So, crisis averted. Thank God. Because I have several things on my Christmas list and a digital camera is NOT one of them!Fanniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13256873494991946979noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093237880290981781.post-60332424324010161902010-11-11T09:20:00.002-06:002010-11-11T09:23:30.933-06:00True StoryIf you walk around at a conference for three days in pumps with heel heights varying between three and three and a half inches? By day four the term “pain in the ass” becomes quite literal.<br /><br />I’m just sayin’.Fanniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13256873494991946979noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093237880290981781.post-19343926116585943002010-11-01T11:37:00.004-05:002010-11-01T11:41:45.812-05:00Random ThoughtsOh the randomness currently rolling through my brain. <br /><br />We have had THE most unbelievable fall weather. Very Little Rain = Much Sunshine. You have no idea how this pleases me. The windows have been open for weeks upon weeks. It has only been in the last few days I’ve left the heat on for an entire 24 hours.<br /><br />Precious Youngest was home this past weekend. She needed a break. She is struggling right now. She is in a difficult period of discernment. She is my worrier by nature and I’m losing some sleep on her behalf.<br /><br />I’ve been notified of two large awards for grants I wrote in late summer. Let me tell you; money is tight and competition is stiff. I feel pretty good about this.<br /><br />I am afraid I have to walk away from helping my sister with her finances. I had hoped to keep her little ship afloat until she could deal with some long standing issues. My assistance is now being perceived as interference. She is resentful to the point that it is affecting our relationship. I am afraid for her, but I can not make an almost forty seven year-old woman DO anything she doesn’t want to do.<br /><br />I have a sort of a braggy thing I keep writing about and then deleting. You know what? Make that two things.<br /><br />The hot flashes. Oh my God people; kill me now. I have an appointment with a doctor next week. I am hoping there is something to be done.<br /><br />See? Random.Fanniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13256873494991946979noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093237880290981781.post-80522587613496033142010-10-25T12:03:00.009-05:002010-10-25T12:58:56.319-05:00Gosh<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMyI24ybhEGFelAZxXQt1ukZB6onf2XHtuXvj5MdFCuCFaqT9WxjAMbILxSqK4Wwvv9RsT7LIMx1nSjawNzaZ2Am_CygKdku1lr7KzSSxBcFCVTWQ6t-EjdHSmPxpHBfzGCd8HDa_csl4/s1600/Door.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 133px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532030592001292866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMyI24ybhEGFelAZxXQt1ukZB6onf2XHtuXvj5MdFCuCFaqT9WxjAMbILxSqK4Wwvv9RsT7LIMx1nSjawNzaZ2Am_CygKdku1lr7KzSSxBcFCVTWQ6t-EjdHSmPxpHBfzGCd8HDa_csl4/s200/Door.jpg" /></a> Gosh I wish blogs had sound effects. Wouldn’t that be great? This post would feature a creaky door, hollow footsteps and maybe creepy bat wing sounds.<br /><br />But no, there are no sound effects. Simply my usual array of excuses as to my absence: Writing grants out the ass - I’m tired! Daughter home for a visit – too busy playing to post! New and extended drama with my sister now including a car accident AND a stolen vehicle – stressed to the max! Questioned by the FBI – intriguing but disconcerting!<br /><br />What can I say? As each day unfolds it would take a Herculean effort on my part to get the details of each saga/adventure/drama fitted into words, sentences and paragraphs. So I skulk at the edges of the blogosphere. Reading but rarely commenting. Wondering if I should quit cold turkey. Back to the days when I didn’t know what a blog WAS.<br /><br />But of course I can’t. I need to know what’s going on in <a href="http://jugglinglife.typepad.com/juggling_life/">California</a> and <a href="http://melissawestemeier.blogspot.com/">Wisconsin</a> and <a href="http://violetinthemiddle.blogspot.com/">Nebraska</a>. In <a href="http://jenontheedge.wordpress.com/">Virginia</a> and <a href="http://thehormonezone.blogspot.com/">Colorado</a> and <a href="http://blackbird17.blogspot.com/">Tuvalu</a>. What of <a href="http://littlemisssunshinestate.blogspot.com/">Florida</a> and <a href="http://hotfessional.com/">Illinois</a>? I find myself invested in the lives of people I’ve never met.<br /><br />So here I am. With a question no less! If blogs had sound effects what would yours be?Fanniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13256873494991946979noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093237880290981781.post-31624706428319682122010-09-27T14:12:00.014-05:002010-09-27T14:21:41.408-05:00Split PersonalityHere are two purchases I made in the past few months. I adore both and have worn them several times though never together. Are you ready?<br /><br />I bought this necklace at Anthropologie.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521673437672018466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXhO9BMBrusY9MjK4Hk13NP-eNR3zmjIkxcQ3C5MgX0A8aP9Zj_6gfCJ3szm-4jI67oaWPcaEo1g7MyWWrTaTGM1qmQfJxd0A382siSHhhxS8t_R0trSQ84IN9sdBOZ0nXukkNkKNLfUU/s200/necklace.jpg" /><br />It was $38. Just the right price for something I’ll likely only wear for a season or two. I am loving it just as much with the browns and burgundies of fall as I did with pinks and greens of summer!<br /><br />I also purchased these boots.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 114px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521673309231278610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEium033vawwZ9hxj1DECsRUbElAjVCFWUrD_VdhUuatrPcvMmZh2IXpC9vZ6m15XbJMo_yReLRPb8WBpO8fERubFPc8up4HQRgJ2gZuoGrxWsP5-C9oUN-pbf4VcGZNVZ11xpy_2cM7L3g/s200/boot.jpg" /><br />OMG - I LOVE them! Lordy I DO <a href="http://40ishfannie.blogspot.com/2008/04/oh-yeah-i-got-new-shoes.html">have a thing for red shoes</a>. I am wearing the boots with dresses and skirts and it is a level of fun I am absolutely crazy about!<br /><br />So readers tell me straight: can schizophrenic <u>be</u> a personal style ?Fanniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13256873494991946979noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6093237880290981781.post-33709328374638404382010-09-24T11:19:00.006-05:002010-09-24T11:28:38.580-05:00Vanished<strong>vanish </strong><br />vb (intr)<br />1. to disappear, esp suddenly or mysteriously<br />2. to cease to exist; fade away<br /><br />Oh hai. I don’t seem to be able to get over here. Stuff is happening. Life is spinning on. I just don’t seem to have the capacity to sum everything up and spit it out here. Or maybe I do:<br /><br /><ul><li><a href="http://40ishfannie.blogspot.com/2010/07/please-god-shes-only-forty-six.html">My sister is back at work</a>. Very tired, but in otherwise good health. <a href="http://40ishfannie.blogspot.com/2010/08/hello-is-anyone-out-there.html">It is miraculous</a>.<br /><br /><li>We had a grand time with <a href="http://40ishfannie.blogspot.com/2010/09/portrait-of-pain.html">Precious Oldest and her friends </a>doing the tailgate thing a few weeks back.<br /><br /><li>Costco had a wonderful <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brunello_di_Montalcino">Brunello di Montalcino </a>in last weekend. $28.99 a bottle. <strong><span style="font-size:180%;">$28.99!!!! </span></strong>I was shoving half a case in my cart when the manager walked by. He asked if I knew that Brunello. Know it? I’ve been to the <a href="http://www.caparzo.com/en/azienda.php">vineyard</a>! Divine.<br /><br /><li>We leave late this afternoon to drive to Precious Youngest’s university for a repeat tailgate performance tomorrow.</li></ul><br />I am considering delineating how to properly throw a college tailgate party. We’re pretty good. I’m just sayin’.Fanniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13256873494991946979noreply@blogger.com2