Hello and goodbye and those disgustingly snobby Christmas letters

I'll be away from blogland for a few days as I'm having surgery tomorrow.  I will leave you with some winter ice pictures inspired by fellow Kentuckian, Jules @ Try to Get over the Rainbow.  These are from Jan. 2009.  We went two weeks without power.

Finch

Ice on power line

The boys only climbing tree was split down the middle as you can see the neighbor's house in the background is ice covered as well.

Stay warm, my friends!

A quick edit before bedtime...

Please, please take the time to read this article

Dad's article

Dad received a Christmas card from a distant relative and this was his response.  I laughed so hard I cried.  I laughed so hard I snorted iced tea through my nose.  It was the funniest thing I've read in a long, long time.  My Dad has got real talent.  He writes this weekly article without pay and every year for Christmas I tell my Mom I want a copy of each article.  I love getting that binder full of my Dad's meanderings.

Please take a moment to read this.  I promise you will laugh out loud!

Busy as a . . . Christmas Elf

I've had so much fun this weekend making lots of goodies. 

Brown sugar body scrub

Peppermint body scrub

Just a few of the many cookies

Gingerbread men

Orange slice cake - Joe's favorite!

Peanut butter fudge

Naked gingerbread man

Lots of body scrub

Maverick couldn't want to see the snow

Ranger didn't last long outside, his glasses got too dark and his cheeks too cold!

Finally wore themselves out.  I hope they go to sleep this easily on Christmas Eve!!

A nutcracker . . . or maybe two

My one true vice . . . I stopped counting last year

I treated myself to this little fellow tonight.  I found him at Sam's for less than $5!  And he's musical and animated!

Maverick with his star

Ranger and the star from their tree

Our kitchen tree.  This is Joe's favorite.  I don't know if it's the colored lights or the matching ornaments but this one has always been his favorite

Guess what I'm doing this weekend . . . finals are over and I'm ready to bake!!

It's beginning to look a lot like . . .

This year, we decided to try something different . . .

We have 3 trees - a small one in the boys room, a medium one in the dining room with colored lights and matching ornaments and a Santa hat topping it off and in the living room . . .

all homemade ornaments

Cornhusk angels, twig stars, cinnamon ornaments,

dried orange slices, and other dried fruits stacked with cinnamon sticks and bay leaves

What do you think?

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

A few family pictures and one fiery goodbye

Mom and Debbie

Dad

Clint

Maverick, Barron, & Ranger

Ranger gnoshing on a turkey leg

Maverick hugging himself

And today we said a fiery goodbye to an old friend.  This faithful old red truck has carried wood, groceries, garbage, been camping, been to Canada, transported kids and adults from here to there . . . and back again.

Old red first belonged to my grand daddy.  I was a little girl when he brought it home all shiny and red.  Mom and Dad inherited it years ago and have coddled it, cursed it, cajoled it, babied it, repaired it and Mom even said about a month ago she wished she had the money to have it repainted a fire engine red.

Today we say goodbye to old red.  In the midst of carrying one final load red decided she'd had enough and went out in true style - a fiery show strong enough to call out the local fire department.

The one thing I wonder is just how much Dad had hidden away from Mom in that old truck.  I'm guessing we may never know.

One tough cookie

It's hard to believe it has been almost a year.  December 12, 2009 - Grandmother had a massive stroke. 

She has been forced to slow down.  She's had to stop driving and believe me, she fought that tooth and nail.  But still, she has got to be one of the most hard headed women I've ever known.  Thank God - because it's that hard head that makes her who she is. 

She raised 4 daughters and 2 sons while Grand daddy worked at the carburetor plant.  She shucked corn, canned green beans, made the most amazing lard biscuits, ran a tiller, and still found time to get out in the yard and show the boys she could play basketball.

She has taught all of us how to be strong, persevere, and how to be thankful.

I love you Grandmother.

These are the three reasons why I do what I do.

Happy Thanksgiving

We had the most beautiful full moon this morning.  It was quite incredible to face one direction and watch the sun rise and look the other way and see the gorgeous full moon.

I wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving.

God bless.