January

We celebrated Christmas and there seemed to be a lot going on. The weather was cold, normal for most of the nation but not for Texas. It gets cold here, no question, but sustained cold for weeks is a bit unusual. We really do run our air conditioner during winter month because we have warm days in winter on and off, so, the sustained cold kept our attention.

Fires in the family room and late into the night...were amazing and beautiful. A celebration all of its own. Blankets and snugglie throws, family time and conversation were more prevalent because we enjoy having a fire in the fire place. It was great for more togetherness and teasing and laughing.

We did notice our little black cat was spending more time upstairs snuggled between the quilts I have on the railing of the loft. Upstairs is warmer and she has always been stiff as she walked. And at night Smudgey would hop up on the bed with me while I read or caught up on email. And I petted her and snuggled her beside me. She was never one to enjoy being held. Only tolerated it. So I didn't pick her up, just gave her time to sit with me and stroke her silky fur.

Then one evening, laughing and carrying on in the kitchen, we saw her going up the stairs. One step. Rest. One step. Rest. It was terribly odd and sudden. Then the next night she attempted to jump up on the kitchen table for a little TLC from her big brother, my older son who never understood why animals can't get on the table.
Well, she couldn't jump and fell back onto the floor.

I picked her up and she had lost half her weight. We were surprised and felt so guilty for not noticing sooner she was so ill.

Long story short, we took both Smudgey and 'little one' (Jordie) to be euthanized. Jordie was Smudgey's sister and was having problems controling her bladder. She had lovingly given Smudgey her spot next to me for comfort that last week...I wonder if Jordie knew Smudg was ill.

George, the part Maine Coon is all we have left. He has stayed by my side like a dog. Main Coons are like that. He doesn't seem to miss his 2 sisters at all. I thought he would be lost having no one to boss around. He has only become more spoiled.

So January marked a bit of sadness. But with so many blessings we have to let go and say good bye and remember well the sweet little cats we adopted 5 years ago.

I miss them. Am happy to have had them. I can't yet remove their photos from my blog, not yet. In time.

Beginnings and Endings are what Life is made of. Time marks our steps and we must graciously accept the Endings as we do the Beginnings.

Melissa

First Snow of the Season

It's a habit...I walk out of my bedroom and look out the side window by the front door.
And to my surprise it was snowing! Just wanted to share the joy of December snow in Texas.

Happy Holidays!

Thanksgiving Table Runner and a New Twist

When I visited BFF last time we popped into Wally World for some items and I picked up E-6000 to glue the wood and mirror together from an old...OLD vanity. I cleaned up the mirrors, glued them well and the next day hung them beside this old ceiling tin.



I like the darker tone against the celadon walls and the lighter tones of the room.

The Thanksgiving Table runner turned out perfectly sized for the table.





Last year I picked up chunky glittered gold pillars for the table but the plaid table cloth and simple runner, candles and little amber prisms on the chandelier seemed quite enough.



The tapers I use every year along with the crystal.

I would love to have an assortment of plates for each season but I already have three sets and no butler's pantry just yet. So, the simple solution was to get pretty paper plates and set my clear glass plates over them! It looked nicer than I thought it would with the coordinating napkins and dessert plates.

What do you think?





And just in time for the Thanksgiving Holiday we had a cold snap and I caught a glimpse of the Fall tones scattered across our little crepe myrtle tree. This is its second Fall and the colors were amazing in shades of amber, rust, copper and a hint of plum.



Having walked through the dark days of unemployment and under employment, I receive comfort looking at this fabulous Creation we are blessed to enjoy, this Earth we walk. ...My prayers are with those whose family may be in Iraq or unable to come 'Home' and for those unemployed and/or struggling. May God bless each of you.

Melissa

The Two Teeth are gone

Yesterday I went to see a really amazing dental surgeon. I am told he has 2 PhDs and teaches at two Universities...in between he does what dental surgeons do.

My appointment started by swallowing 2 Atavans. WOW! Reminds me of the Demerol when I had my last son.

My younger son took me to the doctor, thought that was so sweet. I think my older son felt like I was showing favoritism but I told him I still remember when we were at that mall in D.C. and when I tripped he, stood a safe distance away and just let me stumble, wave my arms wildly and flail about, never trying to help me, while a tour bus stopped to watch...thought I'd never find my footing...lol...I'm sure it was quite a sight as son was laughing hysterically when I looked back to where he was standing.

My younger son is BIG and can easily steady me...even though I am quite fluffy. So I chose him.

I don't remember too much about the visit. I remember offering the surgeon an Atavan if he did a good job. He laughed, said he would do a good job without it...lol! Can't believe I did that!

Then I remember being in the waiting room afterward while Carolyn, who is FABULOUS, told me to do this and that, I nodded politely, good grief what was she saying? My son asked a few questions, they chatted and we made it home.

Fortunately, I made half the soup before I left home that afternoon...my older son finished it and made corn bread...he is a sweetheart and will do such things.

Hubby was there when I got home and helped me into my night gown, set me up on the bed and went to get something for me...who knows what it was.

I woke up in the middle of the night sideways in the bed, to my younger son giving me Advil...see how sweet he is?

Next day I asked hubby why he didn't tell me to lay down properly so I wouldn't roll off the bed and hurt myself, he said he knew I wouldn't. Hmmm...or he was hoping to collect my life insurance? LOL!

Younger son asked if hubby had given me my 7:30am meds. No. Apparently he forgot. He's been a little stressed, really, he has. I do call him Butt from time to time...I just can't help it, ya know?

Anyway, went back this past week and am healing well. Have to go back again Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Just to make sure.

And the lady who takes you money is into PINK! She found a sparkly Pink stapler, calculator, tape dispenser...oh, I wanted it so bad!

All in all I am SO glad I wasn't living Way Back When and that I had a very competent surgeon who could get those two teeth out for me...did I tell you the back tooth had three pins from a root canal gone very badly? One of the pins had gone through the tooth and was causing a bit of infection at the base of the tooth.

SO nice not to deal with that anymore!

Hope your teeth are in good shape for Holiday Smiles and photos,
Melissa

The Hobbit Foot returns

Ok, So I was still bruising everytime I put on shoes...so yesterday I went to see Doc Gorgeous.

He asked what happened and I told him a bottle of beer fell out of the top shelf of the fridge some how and landed on my foot.

He said that is why we buy Light beer. LOL!

Apparently I have no broken bones. May have a broken capillary or two that bleed when locked up in my poorly fitting shoes...ugh! So, now I have to be fitted for new shoes at the New Balance store...or any shoe on that list in my purse. I'm going barefoot again at home and the foot seems to be doing better. My current New Balances are just fine so I am going to give it time to heal up and see how it goes. Mainly cause I want other things right now than new shoes for that foot.

I'm going to see if Santa brings me a pair first, he, of all people, should know if the shoe is properly fitting or not, doncha think?

So that is where we are with the Hobbit foot.

I knew you were wondering. :)

Oh, and tomorrow I get two teeth pulled...should be fun. LOL!

Melissa

Fabulous Fun at BFF's Home

Last Friday afternoon I hit the highways and had a lovely drive to my BFF's place.

It was a balmy sunny day, the lakes were lovely, the traffic tame and I arrived at her school just as school was about to let out. I was invited inside to meet 8 sweet children, really, really cute kids. Respectful, smiling, a little glint of fun sparkling in their eyes, it was great!

Then she and I wandered through Brookshire's. She showed me different sauces and food to give my cooking a super charge and then we went home to her place on half an acre.

Once I rolled out of the city there was a peace, an exhale of stress. But nothing can match sitting on the back deck of BFF's home. Never mind when you pull into her driveway the cell phone automatically looses contact, it matters not...the trees in her backyard are tall and the sound of the breeze ruffles the leaves...Peace, pure peace to my heart.

Back inside, we chopped red onions, garlic, roasted corn her Hubby had just taken off the grill (and he chopped the onions so we wouldn't cry...sweet huh?) , rotisserie chicken, fresh green peppers and threw all that into a big saute pan with black beans to simmer. Talk about a fabulous fragrance filling the kitchen!



While all that simmered, she threw all this in a beautiful bowl.

Letting that chill, she threw flour tortillas on a baking sheet to crisp in the oven then she added the saute ingredients to each tortilla, topped with an assortment of cheeses and then back into the oven to melt.




Her older son, her hubby and I were patiently waiting to fill our plates. Not! Look at that cheese! Didn't take us long to fill our plates.



The next day we made nachos out of the left overs...YUM!

And ya know what?

She hooked me up with WOW...World of WarCraft...yep, I have a rockin' troll or elf...wherever, she is thin and can kill scorpions and wander through an amazingly beautiful world! It's a trial now but I will probably get the whole set up. You would NOT believe how much time flies when you are playing this game! And it is a great way for us to hook up during the week and visit.

A bit of Normal

I'm not feeling up to a quilting session or cleaning up the house just yet. But I am able to embroider those pumpkin drawings I showed a few posts back.



Turned out really cute!



You can see in the raw drawing that I included lots of curlicues. They are much easier drawn or painted than embroidered...those curlicues get shortened and/or eliminated at will...lol!

Orange isn't my favorite color so I chose to embroider the 8 pumpkins in 4 colors plum, burgundy, dark cinnamon and straight up pumpkin. Two shades of green provide contrast and accents on each piece.



They should look nice on the table runner for Thanksgiving.

Embroidery is very time consuming but should be pretty for years to come and if handled well, an heirloom. So I am wanting to make these as nice as possible.
Another help to me has be the Online Retreats the Texas Quilter group has the first of the month. Gives us a chance to plan and set goals and work to meet them rather than letting those plans take a place on the back burner.

What are you working on for the Holidays?

Let's see, one done, one ready for the leaves and curliques...6 to go.

That's what I'm up to,
Melissa