Santa Watch

OK...Max..........One more time.........he's fat and jolly, has a white beard, is wearing a red suit with a funny hat and is driving a Dodge 4x4.........now keep watching!!!!!

and try to be quite so the cat doesn't find us!!!!

I Win.......I Think!!

This seems to be the year of "scaling back"......we decided to lessen the Christmas crazies this year and just enjoy family, good food and friends!!! Christmas is not about who gets the most, it's about God's gift to us......
Anyway.....after last years disaster with a new house and a new cat........a cat that waged war with me about the Christmas Tree.....she loved to knock off the ornaments and try to climb to the top for that fake "Dove of Peace" resting up there......and i kept pulling her out of the tree and re-decorating....only to have her try again......and again......and again......
This year i'm trying a new twist to the "Miss Kitty vs Me" Xmas tree war.....two......count'm two trees.....she doesn't know quite what to do...Hee,Hee....Ha,Ha.....I think i may have won the battle this year!!!!

Does that face look like it's plotting a sneak attach???!!!

One Moment In Time

I don't know how things are at your homes ....but, the pre-holiday insanity has hit here with a big bang!! Everyday seems to bring another problem......another trip to town.......another gift to buy......another card to send......another cake/dozen cookies to bake......I know this is all part of what we call the "Holiday Season" and i'm not complaining......just some times it gets to be a bit.....much?

Sunday morning there was one moment in time that made me realize that there are bigger problems and bigger insanity than what's going on in my house......

These are vapor trails left by the jet jockeys from Norfolk Naval Base........they love to play Tic-Tac-Toe in the skys over my mountains........but, what they are really doing .....are training missions......it seems my mountains resemble the terrain in Afghanistan.......who knew!!??

Thanks to the men and women in the Armed Forces who send Sunday morning training to keep our country safe.....so that i can have my pre-holiday insanity......

I Love This Dog!! - Part II

OK....OK..... I finally gave in to the pitiful looks from the mountain Diva.....Mia May....she's my Jack Russell Terrier.....and is a little camera shy...but, allowed a few pictures so that she could get equal internet time........a little sibling rivalry with Max.....ya think!?
This is Mia looking pitiful...... can you tell she's got us wrapped around her paw?

Gott'a keep that Florida tan....even when it's 23 degrees outside.......outside not her!!

Now she's trying out the "Princess and the Pea" theory......

She's our sweet little, baby girl....just DO NOT get between Mia and her bowl at dinner time!!

I Love This Dog!!!

We've all heard the phrase....."the face only a mother could love"........

Well.......this is Max at his best....... When the camera appears Mia and Miss Kitty run for a hiding place......

But.....Max..... he just rolls over and smiles.......if he's awake.......maybe i'll teach him to wave and blow kisses!!!

Alert the Media!!!

For the family and friends that read my blog......there will be an announcement at the end that you may not be able to handle without strong drinks within reach......but first.........this year i decided to decorate the fireplace mantels with items i had received as gifts went i worked for the school district.....here's what happened........

Max supervising.....................

Mia hiding.....afraid i would put a bow on her...............................

Livingroom firepalce.....look at all those cookie jars, cookie plate, salt and pepper shakers, pictures, globes, candels.....Santa's (Who's the chick on TV??)

Fireplace in the master bedroom........stuff animals....kids like to give teddy bears......more cookie jars and a coke lunch box??!

An here's the big news.........................................after 32 years of marriage, 2 children and many, many holidays together.........................da...dah.......the May Family finally put up "outside Christmas lights!!!!!" Family....please don't faint!

Anyone have 1/2 Cup of Mustard Seeds??

Don't know why these pictures downloaded in the wrong order......any way....this is the finished product......4 quarts of Bread and Butter Pickles

Here they are cooking............................

Here they are soaking.....................................

Here's City Boy helping cut..........................

He did it to me again........!!!! Came home with a ..."DEAL"........44 mini cucumbers.......what'a do with 44 mini-cukes................can't eat that many before they go bad!!!!

Dragged out the "old, worn, torn" Betty Crocker cookbook.........pickles.......lets see........sugar...check, vinegar....check, salt.......check, celery seed......check, curry powder....check, 1/2 cup of mustard seed..... are you kidding!!??......trip to the store.......check!!!!

Trip to the store would not have been a bad thing....except it was SNOWING!!!

Snow quit just long enough to dash to the store and sign up for exercise classes at the Center for the Ageing......does this make me old!!??.......Hey....it's free...... that's a deal!!!

Now the next big question........do we keep them or give them away as gifts??!!