Scott and Dan at Grandma Rose’s for Thanksgiving.
Charlotte always makes the table so festive.
Every year the Christmas spirit comes on me slowly like a wave in the ocean, smoothly and serenely floating toward me till one day it crashes upon me and my heart is filled with joy. I never know what is going to make me swell with that happy feeling. Sometimes it is triggered by a Christmas party where just being around all those happy people makes me happy too. Or sometimes it’s a song heard on the radio that just makes you sing along even though you’ve heard it time and time again. Once in a while it’s a memory of Christmas past that sweeps you up in nostalgia and longing for those who are no longer with us. Often it’s the rituals of this time of year…the decorating, the cookie baking, the Christmas ham…that weave into the fabric of our lives. The bright colored lights decorating the homes along the street and the downtown area all say that this is the time of year to be happy. It might be the comfort of the familiar old movie like It’s a Wonderful Life or White Christmas that makes you smile. I welcome the feeling to come. Be in my heart and make me full of wonder.
Scenes of Christmas past.
Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.
-- Marcel Proust
People who live the most fulfilling lives are the ones who are always rejoicing at what they have.
-- Richard Carlson 
I can’t begin to count the ways that I am blessed..good husband, good children, good family and friends. Every day I thank God that I am so lucky to have been blessed like this. I love my life and am so grateful for my blessings.
Make it a habit to tell people thank you. To express your appreciation, sincerely and without the expectation of anything in return. Truly appreciate those around you, and you'll soon find many others around you. Truly appreciate life, and you'll find that you have more of it.
-- Ralph Marston
Here is the before:
I think the bathroom isn’t the only thing that’s changed..LOL. 
and after….. 
please excuse the pictures in the frames. I haven’t had time to find the right black and white photos yet. There are a few things I need to tweak…new shower hooks and a new soap dispenser, but most of it is done. How quickly things can change! 
How did I live without the internet? It’s like having decorating books and design ideas right at your fingertips all the time. I love to read the blogs of other women and see how they decorate their tables and rooms. It allows me to view gardens and villas that I would never have access to otherwise. It is like a giant design school. This picture is from Artie’s blog near Niagara Falls. There is something about this that speaks to me in a big way….the blue vases, the tulips and the framed letters on the wall along with the rustic table. I just love it.
But for the winter it will be just fine. 
Be Thankful
By Author Unknown
Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire.
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?
Be thankful when you don't know something,
for it gives you the opportunity to learn.
Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.
Be thankful for your limitations,
because they give you opportunities for improvement.
Be thankful for each new challenge,
because it will build your strength and character.
Be thankful for your mistakes. They will teach you valuable lessons.
Be thankful when you're tired and weary,
because it means you've made a difference.
It's easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who
are also thankful for the setbacks.
Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,
and they can become your blessings.
When I saw this I just had to repost it. I think this will be my new philosophy for Christmas this year. Keep it simple. I’ll try to remember that when I open all the Christmas bins in the attic.
The house looks ready for Christmas on the outside. This is the first winter that I put garland on the picket fence. (why didn’t I think of that before?).
Usually I tie the sled up but this year I just put it by the back door. 
And I always put up sentimental things like the letters my children wrote to Santa and the picture of mom and I at Christmas. 
I am loving every page and learning about the computer revolution urged on by this innovative but caustic at times personality. He challenged his staff to do the impossible. His genius comes through in this book. Based on more than forty interviews with Jobs conducted over two years—as well as interviews with more than a hundred family members, friends, adversaries, competitors, and colleagues—Walter Isaacson has written a riveting story of the roller-coaster life and searingly intense personality of a creative entrepreneur whose passion for perfection and ferocious drive revolutionized six industries: personal computers, animated movies, music, phones, tablet computing, and digital publishing.
At a time when America is seeking ways to sustain its innovative edge, and when societies around the world are trying to build digital-age economies, Jobs stands as the ultimate icon of inventiveness and applied imagination. He knew that the best way to create value in the twenty-first century was to connect creativity with technology. He built a company where leaps of the imagination were combined with remarkable feats of engineering.
It is certainly time to celebrate! Today I had an eye appointment with Dr. Lu's office. I've had an eye problem ever since the stress of my father's passing caused me to have a cyst on my retina. This made straight lines become zig-zags and things to look to me like I was looking through a fun house mirror. After many doctor appointments and surgeries I am gaining back clearer vision. The doctor today was “amazed” and “ ecstatic” that I have come such a long way. My vision is clearer than it has ever been in my bad eye. Even though I cannot read or see smaller print and the letters on the page go up and down and disappear my vision is much better than it has ever been. It is so nice to go to the doctor's office and hear good news!
What a wind that blew in last night! We had a thunderstorm that knocked my friend’s dead tree branch right off the tree and onto her neighbor’s roof causing a little damage. 
Today I have been scouring my cookbooks for an hors d’oeurve recipe to take to a neighborhood party tomorrow evening. I have finally settled on Sausage Wellington, an easy and delicious recipe given to me by my sister, Diane. Our new neighbor is giving a party to meet her neighbors..how nice. Here is the recipe in case you would like to try it someday.
Sausage Wellington
Peggy Karrasch
What you need:
2 cans (8 oz. Each) refrigerated crescent dinner rolls
1 pound Jimmy Dean mild Italian sausage
1 egg white, beaten
sesame seeds
8 oz. Philadelphia cream cheese, softened
Make it:
Heat oven to 375 degrees. Cook the sausage in frying pan till crumbled and done. Drain. Mix in the softened cream cheese.
Unroll the crescent dough: separate into 16 triangles. Arrange in 11 inch circle on parchment or foil lined baking sheet with short sides of triangles overlapping in center and points of triangles toward outside. (there should be a five inch diameter opening in center of circle).
Spoon sausage and cheese mixture onto dough near center of circle. Bring outside points of triangles up over filling, then tuck under dough in center of ring to cover filling.
Wash with egg white and sprinkle on sesame seeds.
Bake 35-40min at 375 degrees until golden brown.
When we were young, do you remember how your eyes would light up when you discovered something new that made you smile? Do you remember laughing so much that you were out of breath and you had to pee, but you kept laughing anyway because it was just so much fun to laugh and giggle? Do you remember being wonder-filled? Do you remember staying up late into the night telling tales and having fun with your best friend? When did it all stop? And why?
