I hope 2010 finds us happier, healthier, less stressed, more prosperous, at peace,---did I cover all bases and resolutions. Dinner plans fell through so we put togaether a quiet dinner at home, chilled the champagne and loaded up on movies. Happy New Year Everyone!

What am I doing with my free time, now that Christmas is past? Knitting, knitting, reading, knitting and ordering yarn. I bought this yarn in November and am knitting fingerless mittens with a Scrunchie top from a book called One Skein Wonders. The pattern requires concentration but I LOVE the Noro Sock Yarn. And if that isn't enough, I have already bought yarn to make Christmas presents for next year.

It was love at fist site! Mrs Turkey has a new mate and I have a completed set of Turkey salt and pepper shakers. If you recall, Magglio shattered my Mom's set on Thanksgiving. On Christmas morning, Adam gave me a new turkey that goes beautifully with my set!!

The holiday is slowly slipping into memory. Every day a few ornaments are taken down----a little more space is cleared in the refrigerator and the last Christmas Card arrived yesterday. I am enjoying my free time doing nothing---well, not nothing. I am knitting mittens and reading books I received as Christmas presents. And getting to know my Christmas present-a macro lens for my camera. Too cold to go outside so here are a few shots taken indoors with the camera---or indoors looking outside.

I've missed my little blogspot! It goes without saying it has been a busy, wonderful time of year. We ate too much, drank too much, laughed too much--wait a minute--you can't laugh too much. One of the most magical night's of the year is my mother-in-law's Christmas Eve Open House. She celebrated her 90th year last February and continues to host a wonderful evening. The highlight of the evening is always Santa Clause. Each grandchild and great-grandchild has a turn on Santa's lap. She has had a list of Santa's through the years---one year my brother Ed did it and this year it was my son Matt(the bottom pic shows him sitting on Santa's lap in 1985!). The youngest cried and the high schoolers were marvelous--they didn't let on that they knew who Santa was and continued the magic for the younger ones. Here is a pic of the papparazzi composed of proud parents, relatives and those who wished they still believed in Santa!

The stockings are hung----and there isn't one more thing to do to get ready! So we are enjoying a classic movie--White Christmas. Speaking of stockings, I made these about 30 years ago and while entertaining some good friends last nite, somebody commented "I understand the penguin, Santa Clause and the snowman on the stockings---but why a bunny??" I thought awhile and didn't have an answer. Why would I applique a bunny on a Christmas stocking??? Thirty years ago I must have had a reason. Merry Christmas everyone and I hope you are surrounded by those you love.

Last week a friend called and said "when are we going to have an evening with Magglio and Martinis?. Tonite was the nite and what a great evening it was. We laughed, we drank martinis, we laughed, we nibbled, we laughed and we felt totally relaxed and stress free. What better way to start the holiday than relaxed and happy!!!! Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Check out these flying monkeys! We saw them in a shop last weekend in Indiana. They are the modern version of a sock monkey and they have magnets in their feet and hands to hold them on the trees. I wish I would have bought one but they looked so happy all together hanging from the trees.

Lists are made. Every day there are tasks to be done and today this was on the list. Cinnamon rolls for Christmas morning. These were made in the bread machine--well the dough anyway and now they are in the freezer waiting to be iced and eaten on Friday.

Buckle up everyone---it is crunch time. If you don't have it done by now, you don't have much time left. For the second year now, we have traveled to Warsaw, Indiana this weekend before Christmas to spend time with Adam and Jonelle. It is just so nice to "step out of the Christmas rush" and relax a little with people you love. And they had snow, which made it extra nice. Jonelle has been baking and baking and made wonderful Poinsettia Cookies! AND she sent us on our way with gift bags full of the cookies! And not to mention a delicious loaf of Chi Tea Bread!

She's back. After the unfortunate breakage incident with the Thanksgiving turkey, I was planning on keeping my Mom's snow lady safely behind glass. But I decided to bring her out where we could appreciate her charm. I've loved her my whole life(and that's a long time) and remember my Mom bringing her out to display and spraying her with white snow flocking. She told me she bought her when they were first married in the early 40's. I used to think she had a wax base but it looks more like cotton batting. I am not going to do change a thing about her and some people may thinks she is----well, homely. But to me she is gorgeous!

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Happy Birthday Dan! Can't tell you his age, that wouldn't be nice. But we celebrated his birthday today and here for all to see is his high school graduation picture. Isn't he cute----I don't think he has changed too much, except for the glasses!

Please God, let it snow! Seriously----this gray, drizzly mess is disheartening. I can't even bring myself to post a picture of it. But wait----what did the weatherman just say? Snow is on the Way!!

In the mean time, here are some idle thoughts----

1. It is way too easy to order shoes online. The selection, the pictures, the free shipping, Oh My!

2. I delivered a wreath to my Mom and Dad's grave and my heart goes out to anyone who has lost a loved one this year. I work with a woman whose beautiful daughter died unexpectedly and she is just one of many friends and family who are grieving. They are constantly in my thoughts and prayers

3. 6:15 in December seems like bedtime but 6:15 in July seems like it is just the beginning of a leisurely long evening

4. I wish I had EVERY Monday off---life would be perfect

5. Weatherman is hinting at a White Christmas. Life would be perfect.

6. Does anyone know how to train a dog to wipe his feet before coming inside. Life would be perfect.

Have a nice evening!

This doesn't happen very often. We were celebrating 4 family birthday's at my Mother in Laws(including my husbands) and Christmas Carolers came to the door. It was a pleasant surprise and a great end to a wonderful weekend.

We love traditions----and we love to break the rules too. But this annual tradition goes back many years when it became clear that Adam was the tallest in the family and as a matter of convenience was asked to put the angel atop the tree. Now that he lives one state over, we have to wait for him to come home to get the job down!

It may be because I am getting older, but this cold and windy weather today is almost intolerable! But inside, I am still making Jelly! I found a recipe for Christmas jelly made with Red Hots! You remember--those cinnamon-y red candies! They turned out so pretty and will be great on muffins over the holidays. Here is the recipe---and it is so easy.

Christmas Red Hot Jelly

4 cups apple juice

1/2 cup Red Hots

1 box Sure Jell fruit pectin

4 1/2 cups sugar

Bring juice, red-hots and pectin to a rolling boil, stirring constantly. Add sugar and boil for 2 mins. Ladle into canning jars, seal and process in hot water bath for 5 mins.

See----easy!

There is something so magical about the first snowfall of the season---especially when the outdoor Christmas lights are up and Charlie Brown's Christmas is on TV. I guess we are all kids at heart.

Sometimes computers can make our lives miserable. Every year I store my Christmas Card List in my computer to just print out when needed. Not. Last year my hard drive crashed and this year--printer troubles. I am going back to the "good old days" when you just saved it on file cards. But all that is irrelevant today--Pearl Harbor Day. My Mom would always cry on this day as she remembered the radio announcement that we had been attacked. God bless all our veterans and enlisted men for protecting America.

The Frost is on the Pumpkin

Winter arrived with a BANG last Friday. Frigid temps---and it just so happened that Friday was our surgery departments Christmas Party, held at the Zoo this year. We wandered around in the 20 degree weather looking at the Lights before Christmas and then wandered inside to the reception room for a lovely dinner and warming drinks.

It's really not Christmas until you get the red or green sprinkles out and put them on something edible while making a little mess on your countertops! As usual, Magglio does a magnificent job of rounding up any sprinkles that drop on the floor!

Charlie Browrn Christmas Tree

I thought this was kind of funny---and ridiculous at the same time. Our local big-box grocery store is selling packaged plastic Charlie Brown Christmas trees for 9.99-marked down from 14.99. Isn't a Charlie Brown Christmas Tree supposed to be the tree nobody wants or will pay for--the last scrubby tree on the lot that you can get for FREE on Christmas Eve!

I am honored to be able to share hometowns with one of(if not, THE) greatest Jazz Musician of all time and this past year we have been celebrating the anniversary of what would have been Art Tatum's 100th year. In honor of the event, various artists have painted between 30-40 pianos and placed them around the city----venues such as the Toledo Museum of Art, the University of Toledo, the Walleye Arena AND this one in the TMA Glass Pavillion. Although you can't really see them in the pic, this piano is covered in a mosaic of glass tiles. Very appropro, wouldn't you say! But----here is the best part-----you can actually sit down and PLAY the pianos. So, I am going to practice a simple song and go back to the Glass Pavillion and play it. Did I ever mention amy piano recital given when I was 8 years old? My brother and I were playing a duet and both forgot the song---maybe in fright---but who can forget the look mortification in their mother's eyes! So you see---this little song will be my first public performance since that disaster. Wish me luck!!

What a difference 6 weeks makes! It wasn't that long ago that these empty stalls at the Toledo Farmer's Market were overflowing with red tomatoes, purple eggplants, white cauliflower,mums, honey, baked goods, pumpkins and-------lots of smiling friendly people.

And Then There was One!

Do you recall my post about my Mom's Turkey salt and pepper shakers. Well---we didn't exactly get through Thanksgiving without a catastrophe. I went up to get ready for dinner and when I came down, Dan looked, well-----woried. He finally told me Magglio pulled down the tablecloth with the salt and pepper shakers on it and the Tom turkey ended up in "a million pieces". I felt so sad and I am not sure if I will even pull out this lone bird next year. She may stay up on a shelf for safekeeping! It didn't help that the weekend was peppered(excuse the pun) with Adam's comments such as "anyone want salt and pepper with dinner---er make that pepper" But I am THANKFUL I still have this one left!

Life was good around here the last couple days. I hope it was the same with your family too. All that is left are the memories----of a trip to the Toledo Museum of Art with Adam and Jonelle to see Chihuly Toledo, of a family outing to our new Lucas County Arena to see the new team in town--the Walleye and of course the food. I couldn't resist the shot of Jonelle with her fabulous Gingerbread Trifle that she was taking to her family Thanksgiving. Okay,a night of rest and on to Christmas decorations tomorrow!

Ahhhh---another Thanksgiving has come to an end and it was surrounded by Family and Good Food. Do these pictures look familiar---after dinner the men relax and stretch out and the ladies clean up. Little did the men know that while they were sitting there awaiting pie, we were finishing off the rest of the wine and having a great time!

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I left my desk for a short while at work this morning and came back and found this! It was so pretty I had to take it's picture and then was so delicious I had to blog about it. It's a Caramel Frappe from McDonalds! It truly made my day!

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We are making stuffing!! A little early---and it isn't for Thanksgiving dinner. It's my Mom's recipe and 1.I didn't want to forget how to make this delicious dish a 2. Combined with a Turkey breast, it will come in handy during the busy days ahead when family is in and out and we don't want to cook anymore. Enjoy this wonderful holiday and all the delicious cooking aromas that accompany it.

These little guys are back on the table. They used to live at my Mom's house and every Thanksgiving they would join us at the table and now I am lucky to have them as part of our holiday table. They are perched in front of the makings of Cranberry Muffins which are going into the freezer until our Day after Thanksgiving breakfast!

We have officially ushered in the holiday season by watching Love, Actually! It is my favorite Christmas, feel-good, great music, put you in the holiday spirit movie. And it has Hugh Grant---nuff said. It does have some nudity, so probably not for the kiddies. Bring on the snow!!

We graduated. Last nite was our last session in Obedience School with Magglio. And while he has made a lot of progress--he still has a lot of work to do. It became clear during the sessions that he was probably abused and neglected in his former life but we are committed to working him through his issues---and in return he gives us his love and-------well, mostly it is us giving him food, shelter, treats, companionship, rides in the car, safety from storms, pockets of treats. But in return, he gives us love. And---he walked away with the reward for "Best Recall". He isn't dumb---he knows that if we let him walk away and then re-call him, there is a treat in hand waiting!

If you don't live in Ohio or havev never lived in Ohio, you won't understand this post, so you can just stop reading right now. For the rest of you(excluding those Ohioans who are Michigan fans) here is a treat for your eyes(I tried to upload a video but no luck)--the Best Damn Band in the Land. Saturday is the Ohio State-University of Michigan rivalry and it is almost a national holiday around here. We were at a beautiful, elegant wedding Saturday and the bride delayed her entrance to the reception until the game was over(the wedding party was watching "the game") and so we sang OSU marching band songs!

This book has been sitting on my bookshelf for a long time---and I have had it even longer--probably since 1960ish. I remember learning to read and the joy of being able to read it myself. I read the first story in the book today and suddenly remembered why I loved this book so much. The fairy tale was kind of quirky. The King was poor but was "the manliest of his sex" and his Queen was the "lovliest of hers". They had 19 children and although they were dirt poor they all had charming golden crowns. But let's not forget the young Princess Alicia's bridegroom---Prince Certainpersonio---who, when found, was sitting by himself, eating barley sugar and waiting to be ninety. I know---quirky but fun.

It's Friday Night Lights here in NW Ohio and we are following the St Francis Knights on their quest for a State title. And yes it is cold sitting out here but we have our thermal underwear on!We are in Fremont Stadium where Charles Woodson played his high school football and rumor has it he bought the Astro turf field.

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Here is my salute to all our Veteran's who have served to protect our freedoms. I thanked 5 Vet's today------and am posting a picture of my father in law---Donald Liberty Gross(cool middle name!) who is 2nd from the right. We salute you all!

Happy Birthday Sesame Street! I loved that show when our sons were little and am asking myself why I don't watch it every now and then. You don't need kids to appreciate that show. We watched it so much in the 80's that Matt used to watch the Canadian Broadcasting Version in the mornings and learned to say the Canadian alphabet which ends with X-Y-Zed instead of X-Y-Zee. It took some convincing to get him to recite the American alphabet. Gosh, Big Bird doesn't look 40!