A new jacket

Another cold morning for walking with a temperature of 25 degrees but no wind again so another pleasant walk.  I walked one of my connect the path routes around the neighborhoods.  It was dark at first and when I saw the first three deer it was just the whites of their tails that I saw run across the path in front of me.  I didn't see anyone at first but when I was on the last path heading home, I saw lots of people.  I was stopped talking to Petey and John (the 89 year olds! ) when a man stopped to chat who was walking his yellow lab.  His dog was deaf and the man talked to him in sign language!!  The mans wife was deaf which is why he knows sign language.  I thought a dog that knows sign language was pretty cool!!  I meet such interesting people out walking!  While we were all talking we saw five deer meander across the field we were standing by.  I also saw a couple of cardinals and those buzzards flying around again.
The picture is just one of the paths I walked down.
I walked 6.3 miles.
Sunrise 7:27
Sunset 4:54

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A new REI (sports equipment and clothes) store opened up around here a little while ago and last night we stopped in after supper to have a look around.  There was the nicest, softest black jacket hanging there on the closeout rack that I just happened to try on.  When I tried it on, I didn't want to take it off so Ken bought it for me. :-)  I just love it.  It feels so soft.  It also has a hood and it is ever so warm and cozy.

No work for Ken today so this morning we were out and about doing some errands.  We stopped at the library and got a couple of movies and I got a book.  I have to start on that 75 list of books as soon as possible for 2011!

The temperature has gone up to 54 degrees and Ken is out washing the FJ.  I was going to wash my car too, but just don't feel like it.  Tomorrow it is supposed to be just as warm so maybe I'll do mine then.  It is hard to believe that it is just about 30 degrees warmer now than this morning.

We have no special plans for tonight for New Year's Eve.  Just a nice quiet evening at home, though we will probably go out to eat somewhere.  

A Happy New Year to you.

Happyone :-)

Cheers to a New Year and another chance for us to get it right.

~ Oprah Winfrey

75 books? Not this year!

I was surprised to see this morning that the temperature was only 16 degrees so I had a chilly walk!!  No wind again so it really didn't feel that cold.  By the time I got home it was up to 23.  I walked around the lake and there were quite a few people out.  Too many to bother to count them.  I stopped for a little chat with Barb.  She doesn't bring her dogs on her morning walk any more because they hold her up. :-)  They get their own slower walk later on. I didn't see any wild life except for the geese.  Some in the little bit of water that remains on the lake and these in the picture flying over head.  They all landed on the grass up near the front of the park.  I don't mind walking in the cold but I do prefer having it a bit warmer.  Wearing so many layers of clothes sometimes I feel like Mikey in The Christmas Story. :-)
I got started a bit later than usual this morning and left a little after 7:00.
I walked 6.4 miles.
Sunrise 7:27
Sunset 4:53

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Every year I read the Bible and yesterday I finished it for this year.  That makes my total number of books for the year 56.  I was in a group on TheLibraryThing to read 75 books which makes me 19 below my goal.  I am joining the group once again this year.  Maybe this will be the year I do it!!  I have all 56 books that I've read listed on the left sidebar.  After finishing the first book for 1011 I will remove it and start the new list.

Ken got a gingerbread train kit from a woman he works with for Christmas.  I told him it would be fun to make and said I would make it.  Today was the day I made it and though it took quite a while do make, I did not do such a good job with it!! :-)  If you care to see it click HERE. 

It was one of those days that I didn't get any work done.  Just the very basic house chores.  I did some knitting and here I am now on the computer.  Soon I'll be off here and back to my knitting.  I'll probably do some reading too.

And that's my day so far.
A smile from me to you.
Happyone :-)

Be always at war with your vices,

at peace with your neighbors,

and let each new year 

find you a better man.

~ Benjamin Franklin

I want to say THANKS to you all for the nice comments you leave.  They really do mean a lot!! 

Ladybugs

Last night after supper we went out to spend the gift card we got for Christmas at Barnes and Nobles. I got a calender journal and a daily devotional book by Joyce Meyer called Ending the Day Right.  This past year I've been reading her book Starting the Day Right.  I've passed that one down to Ken to read this year.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This morning the temperature was up to 27 degrees with no wind at all. :-)  Made for a very pleasant walk.  Stayed away from the lake and walked one of my connect the path routes. Very quiet and I only saw a couple other people out walking.  Not much traffic around either because there is no school this week and I think a lot of people have stayed home from work. 
Not much wildlife around either. I saw a few buzzards flying around and a hawk of some kind and that's it.
I walked 6.1 miles.
Sunrise 7:27
Sunset 4:53

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

The refrigerator and cabinets getting low on food again so I made up a shopping list and went to the commissary.  It was a pretty good day as far as crowds.  No lines to wait on but there were a lot of kids out shopping with their moms running all over the place getting in the way.  There were a few who were well behaved!

I like ladybugs and Ken got me these ladybugs for Christmas.  Its' a place to hold the brillo and measuring spoons.  I just love them! :-)

Here is the white cabinet that we moved up from the basement on Christmas day.  I have my milk bottle collection on top and put some of my Fiestaware in it.   

I took some Fiesta off the hutch because I needed a change from having it all on the hutch.  The white cabinet will look better once we paint the walls blue.  I'm hoping we will be able to paint in the next few weeks.  Ken has loaned out our ladders and we are awaiting the return of them.

The temperature has gone up to the mid 40's with lots of sunshine today.  It sure is pretty outside. :-)
I have a few chores  I have to get done and I still haven't done my exercise tape so off I go to do that.

Hope all is well in your part of the world.
A happy day to you.
Happyone :-)

True simplicity begins 

when you learn to enjoy 

the amazing abundance 

of what is already yours.

~ Thomas Kinkade

Cold but not so windy

The temperature was 24 degrees this morning but what a difference without the wind from yesterday.  Still a breeze but not bad at all.  It was nice when the sun came up to feel the sun on my face!  More people out today walking and running around the lake than the two of us yesterday.  I counted seven.
The geese are getting less and less space on the water as more of it gets frozen.  They are really crowed tightly together.  Maybe that is why they are so noisy, not enough personal space. :-)
The dead deer is still near the path with the buzzards there.  I got a picture of a buzzard sitting on the deer but chose not to post it.  It's not a very nice picture!
I walked 6.4 miles.
Sunrise 7:26
Sunset 4:52

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We had a nice evening out with Jackie and Kerry last night.  We ate at one of our favorite pizza places where they had never been before.  They too agreed the pizza was one of the best!!

As Ken and I watched a bit a television last night we had ice cream for our snack.  My favorite for now is still the Vanilla Fudge Twirl.  I finally got a little knitting in for the day too.

I finally broke down and threw away an old pair of jeans.  They were so comfortable and thin and had so many holes in them that I had to wear tights underneath. It was a sad moment when they entered the trash can.

It being Tuesday I was off to my knitting group for a morning of knitting and then back home for lunch.  I had a peanut and butter sandwich on the bread I made yesterday.  No matter how old I get I never tire of PB and J.  While eating lunch I watched a TV show about hoarders.  Man, the houses these people live in, it is just so sad to see how they live.  I didn't watch the whole show!

I've spent most of the afternoon on the computer.  I'm off now to get some work done.  Till next time....

Hope your day was a happy one.
Happyone :-)

Winter is the time for comfort,

for good food and warmth,

for the touch of a friendly hand

and for a talk beside the fire:

it is the time for home.

~ Edith Sitwell 

Cold and windy

Wow, was it ever windy this morning!  The radio said gusts up to 50 miles an hour and I believe it, especially the open area by the dam at the lake.  The temperature was 26 degrees but still with all my layers on I stayed warm.
For all the snow that fell yesterday we were left with only a dusting. :-) This picture is the path along the stream that leads to the lake.  I was on my way back home when I took this picture.

What looks like snow on the road here is actually salt.

They get a bit carried away with the stuff here.  When cars drive down the road they leave a cloud of salt in their wake.  Makes for lots of white cars!
I didn't see any deer or rabbits but I did see their tracks in the snow!  I saw a few buzzards flying around and then noticed the dead deer on the side of the path.  Poor thing. :-(
The only other person I saw out by the lake was Barb and we stopped to talk for a little while.  We laughed that we were the only people around the whole lake!  She is just as obsessed about her morning walk as I am.  We were both happy that that we got just a little snow and no ice so it wouldn't keep us from our walk!
I walked 6.3 miles.
Sunrise 7:26
Sunset 4:51

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Back to those Monday morning chores around the house. Not a big fan of using the clothes dryer but it was certainly too cold and windy for hanging the the clothes outside today!

I had the bread machine making a loaf of bread and just took soup out of the freezer for supper tonight when  I got a call from Ken at work.  Our friends Jackie and Kerry asked us to go out for pizza tonight with them.  I certainly can't pass that up so the soup will have to wait for tomorrow! :-)

Just taking a break here and now it's time to get some more work done.  I have some ironing to do before I can get to the fun stuff.

A smile from me to you.

Happyone :-)

Perhaps the truth depends on a walk around the lake.

~ Wallace Stevens

Red Pancakes :-)

We had a very nice Christmas. :-)  The first present I gave Ken to open were two flannel shirts.  He then gave me my first present to open and I also had two flannel shirts.  Each of us picked out a black/white plaid for each other!!  My other shirt is pink/black/blue and I got Ken a green/black one.
I made pancakes for breakfast and decided to make them a bit festive by putting red food coloring in the batter.  I think I over did the food coloring.  What do you think? :-)

We watched A Miracle on 34th Street.  I didn't cook a big meal but just made us baked ziti.
Not the usual thing to do on Christmas but we moved some furniture around.  Ken moved his computer cabinet out of the kitchen and put it downstairs.  Then we moved the hutch to the other side of the kitchen and brought up an old white cabinet that was downstairs.  I had fun moving dishes from one place to the other.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This morning I was up and walking at 6:45.  Walked to Gray Rock, to the end and back home again.  A couple of other people were out too.  The temperature was 27 and was cloudy and felt like snow.  No wind so it wasn't that cold.  A uneventful walk but a good one. :-) 
I walked 6 miles.

I played hooky today and didn't go to church.  Ken and I took off for a ride instead.  We drove back roads and went to Emmittsburg and walked around the Antiques Mall there.  I found a 13 inch Fiesta Chop Plate in blue. 

 I collect the six original colors.  This makes four of the colors.  The other colors I need are red and turquoise.
We also stopped in a train hobby store in Pennsylvania.  On the way home it started to snow.  It's still snowing now but not sticking.  I just hope it doesn't get icy so I will be able to walk in the morning.

We will be going to Longhorn for supper in a little while to round off the holiday weekend.  I already know what I'm going to get.  An appetizer salad that has nuts and fruit in it.  I don't remember what it is called. It's just an appetizer but a good size for a meal. 

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and a great day after.
A happy to you.
Happyone :-)

Merry Christmas

Since it's Christmas just a short walk this morning.  I walked directly to the lake, around the lake without going on the upper trail and back home again.
I walked 4.8 miles.
I saw eight other people out too. :-)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Luke 2:11

For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, 

who is Christ the Lord.

A Very Merry Christmas to you.

I wish you love, contentment, and the joy of knowing Jesus!

Happyone :-)

Christmas Decorations

Another walk around the lake this morning.  I walked down a short path to the lake and took the picture.  A cold 24 degrees and breezy, but nothing like yesterday.  The only place it was really windy was at the wide part of the lake by the dam where it is wide open.  A fair amount of people out, though most of them were runners.  Only saw a few of the regulars.  Almost didn't see the deer in the woods.  They blend in so well.  I'm sure there were a lot that I just didn't see.
I walked 6.2 miles.
Sunrise 7:25
Sunset 4:49

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ken was out and about this morning.  I did just a few basic house chores and then sat down to do some more knitting on my little Santa.  So far it's coming along nicely.  

We met up again for lunch and then we went out again to get a few errands done. We are home now and are going to go out later when it's dark to look at Christmas lights.

Heard a funny story on the news last night.
A family woke up to find Christmas lights on their house and decorations scattered throughout their yard.  In the night someone had stolen the decorations from other neighbors and had put them up in their yard.  I guess it was a prank of some sort.  During the day neighbors stopped by to pick up their decorations and put them back where they belong!!

All set for Christmas tomorrow.

 Presents under the tree.

  Stockings hung up.

A Happy and Merry Christmas to you!

A happy day to you.

Happyone :-)

"Twas the night before Christmas,

when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring,-

not even a mouse:

In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there......

~ Clement Clarke Moore

Back to the lake

It was 29 degrees with some gusty winds this morning when I headed outside at 6:35.  The sun was up and out half way into my walk.  After six days away from the lake it was nice to get back there for my walk.  The wind just came in gusts so it wasn't a constant wind but when the gusts came they were strong.  I would be walking and all of a sudden a gust would come along and either push me ahead or hold me back.  It was pretty funny at times!

I saw two deer hiding in the woods and then another deer walked across the path in from of me.  Only a few people out walking or running and the men were working on the pier.  I was near the pier and one of the workers was walking down to the pier and stopped to say good morning.  He said he never knew this lake was here before he started working here.  He asked some questions about the lake and my walking. Then told me he was going to start walking.  Always nice to get another walker out there. :-)
I couldn't decide which lake picture to post this morning, so here are both of them.

I walked 6.5 miles.
Sunrise 7:25
Sunset 4:49

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We are watching a television show on Netflix called Rain Shadow which is pretty good.  We are on the second disc of the first season.  Its about two women veterinarians working out in the Australian Outback.

This morning I flew though my housework chores so I would have the afternoon for knitting. I'm trying to knit a six inch Santa.  Not sure how it will turn out!!  Just taking a little break from it now before going back to it.

I wish for you a happy day.

Happyone. :-)

Christmas gift suggestions:

To your enemy, forgiveness.

To an opponent, tolerance.

To a friend, your heart.

To a customer, service.

To all, charity.

To every child, a good example.

To yourself, respect.

~ Oren Arnold

Yum Yum Cake

A cloudy sky for my walk this morning.  It was 31 degrees but there was no wind so it felt quite warm out.  I didn't walk any special route today, just walked down some streets and paths around the neighborhoods.

Some of the paths were cleared and looked like this.

Others were still icy and looked like this.

I didn't see anyone else out walking and not much wildlife either.  Just the usual birds and lots of squirrels.

I walked four miles and then stopped back home for a pit stop and to shed two layers of clothes.  Then continued and walked another three miles.  That makes seven miles in all.  I guess you could have figured that out for yourself. :-)

Sunrise 7:24

Sunset 4:48

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Today I made a Yum Yum Cake.  For the recipe click HERE.   It is a recipe from my grandmother (moms mom) and the only recipe I have from her.  I don't come from a family who likes to bake or cook so we don't have the recipes passed down book.
It is very easy and quick to make and is delicious.

Ready for the oven.

Out of the oven and cooling.

 Turned out of the pan and reading to eat. 

Just a typical day around the house today.  House cleaning chores to do, exercising, and now for a little knitting and reading.  Still trying to get those 75 books read! :-)  

And that's my day so far.

A happy day to you.

Happyone :-)

The universal joy of Christmas is certainly wonderful.

We ring the bells when princes are born,

or toll a mournful dirge when great men pass away.

Nations have their red-letter days,

their carnivals and festivals,

but once in the year and only once,

the whole word stands still to celebrate the advent of a life.

~ Author Unknown

This day just doesn't have a title. :-)

Another morning just like yesterday for my walk and I walked the same route once again.  Some sidewalks clear, others icy or snowy.  I did see the sun out before I got back home and it felt good to feel it on my face.  Only saw a couple of people out walking dogs and one runner running down the middle of the street!
I used to walk down this little path once in a while which leads to an little old building.  I've taken a picture of it quite a while ago but can't find it just now.  Looks like I won't be walking down there again now that these signs are posted.

 Sunrise 7:24

Sunset 4:48

The temperature was 24 degrees this morning and I walked 6.4 miles.

It's Tuesday again so I went to my knitting group.  I handed out the little snowmen bag of cookies that I made yesterday. :-) 

Ken took a vacation day so we spent much of the afternoon together. :-)

Home for a bit now and later we will be going out to eat at Outback.  My parents sent us a gift card and we will be using that.  Thanks Mom and Dad! 

That's it for today.
Hope yours is a happy one.
Happyone :-)

And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow,

stood puzzling and puzzling,

how could it be so?

It came without ribbons,

It came without tags.

It came without package, boxes or bags.

And he puzzled and puzzled

'till his puzzler was sore.

Then the Grinch though of something 

he hadn't before.

What if Christmas, 

he thought,

doesn't come from a store.

What if Christmas, perhaps,

Means a little bit more.

~ Dr Seuss

Party, pizza and baking

We both had a great time at the Christmas party we went to Saturday night at Cheryl's house.  Nice people to talk to, good food and a couple of Guinness made for a happy evening. :-)

This is a picture of Cheryl and I.

Yesterday morning and today I walked the same route.  Straight down the road, a turn at Gray Rock where I walked to the end and turned around and came home.  I walked on the sidewalk where I could and then in the road where the sidewalks were snowy and/or icy.  All of you who are going to tell me to be careful and that I shouldn't walk in the street, please don't worry.   I walk facing traffic and when I see a car coming I hop up on the curb.  I don't listen to music when I walk and I'm well aware of what is going on around me.

It as been so cold that our puny little couple of inches of snow is still around.  Usually it's gone the same or next day.  

 Here is what the sidewalks look like around here.

 I would like to say a big THANK YOU to all the people who shovel their sidewalks.  It is very much appreciated!!

Just saw a few people out both days and no wildlife.  I spent too much time looking down to see where I was walking. The temperature was 24 degrees and the morning was cloudy.

I walked 6.4 miles.

Sunrise 7:23

Sunset 4:47

A quick stop at the library yesterday afternoon with Ken and I picked up two audio books to listen to while I'm in the kitchen or knitting.

For supper last night we made pizza.  As usual I made the dough in the bread machine and Ken made the actual pizza.  We put green and red peppers on it and Ken said I should take a picture because it looked like a Christmas Pizza.  

Here are the two pizzas we made ready for the oven.The part that doesn't have cheese and peppers on it is just a bit of olive oil and garlic that Ken made special for me. :-)

 Here is one coming out of the oven and ready to eat. 

 And Oh Yes, it was good!!!

I made a TO DO List today with 16 tasks on it.  I did the housework ones first to get them out of the way.  One task was to vacuum upstairs.  The vacuum wasn't picking up good so I thought it was time to change the bag.  When I opened the vacuum up to change the bag I saw that the bag had come undone and must have come undone quite a while ago! What a mess that was.  There I was with my car vacuum vacuuming the inside of a vacuum.  That was a first for me!! :-)

 A fun task on my list was to bake Chocolate chip cookies.

Then I made up these little snowmen holiday bags of cookies for my friends at the Tuesday knitting group.  I've made sixteen up with four cookies in each bag.  Tomorrow I will give one to who ever shows up to knit.  

While I baked I listened to one of the audio books I got yesterday,  The Perfect Christmas by Debbie Macomber.

One item that didn't get crossed off my list was to bake a cake called YumYum Cake.  Just ran out of time but I'll do that tomorrow or the next day.  Ironing was on my list too which I won't be doing today.  Not too bad though - I did 14 out of 16. 

I'm off now to read some blogs and then clean up the kitchen before I mess it up again making Tacos for supper.

A happy day to you.
Happyone :-)

Christmas is a time to open our heart to God and His gift.

Just like the rest of the year.

~Author Unknown

Christmas begins with Christ

This was the front of my church bulletin last week.

Let us remember in the middle of all our 

shopping, baking, gift giving, and visiting 

that Jesus is the reason we celebrate Christmas.

Have a blessed Sunday.

Happyone :-)

Back to walking

I was able to get out and walk this morning.  I left an hour later than usual when it was light so I would be able to see the ice and avoid it. There was still a lot ice around because a lot of people don't shovel their sidewalks but I managed to walk where there was no ice.  It was one crazy route today.  I would hate to have to trace where I walked.  I walked around parking lots, up and down sidewalks, sometimes in the road and did a lot of back tracking.  Whenever I came across ice I would turn around and go back the other way.  The picture is of one place where I turned around.  It was good to be out walking again so I'm not complaining. I didn't see any wild life except for the birds and squirrels.  Only saw one other person out walking a dog.  At 25 degrees out and no breeze it felt warm (must be getting used to cold temperatures).
I walked 6.2 miles.

Sunrise 7:22

Sunset 4:46

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We enjoyed the Christmas program at church last night.  It was called A Christmas Prayer and was a musical.  It always amazes me that we have so many talented singers in a little church.  This little church is truly blessed. :-)  

After lunch we went out and picked up some Guinness to bring to Cheryl's Christmas party that we will be going to tonight.  I'm going to the party in comfort, wearing one of the new jeans I just bought a couple of days ago. 
Lots of traffic out on the roads with this being the last weekend before Christmas.  Crazy drivers, either poking along or zooming in and out of traffic.  Came across an accident.  Nothing serious, just a fender bender.

I'm home now and I'm just going to read and knit for a while.  We will have just a little something here to eat for supper.  Snacks tonight will be the food at the party, where I know I'm going to eat too much.  I'm bringing chocolate chip cookies and pheffernuesse cookies.

Hope this Saturday finds you happy and finished shopping!

A smile from me to you.

Happyone :-)

No matter how carefully you stored the lights last year,

they will be snarled again this Christmas.

~ Robert Kirby

No Walk Today

Sidewalks are icy today after yesterdays snow so I decided (with Ken's suggestion) not to walk this morning. I do cold, hot, rain, wind, and snow but not ice.  I hate not walking!!  :-( I started the day out doing a couple of Body Electric exercise DVD's so I feel good about getting some exercise in.  The temperature was 17 degrees.  It rose to 34 later in the day.

Sunrise 7:21

Sunset 4:46

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There wasn't very much snow on the driveway but the snow plow went by and left a little pile so I went out and shoveled that up.

Just did a little work around the house.  I spent time on the computer, did some reading and knitting.  I'm reading a book of short stories by Maeve Binchy.  I don't usually read short stories but the ones in this book are quite good.

This evening my church is putting on their Christmas program and I'm looking forward to going to watch that.  Ken is going to come along with me.

That's it for today.  A nice quiet day so far.

Hope all is well in your part of the world.

A smile from me to you.

Happyone :-)

When we recall Christmas past,

we usually find that the simplest things,

not the great occasions,

give off the greatest glow of happiness.

~Bob Hope

A walk, new jeans, a ride, & baking

With no wind at all this morning and a temperature of 17, it seemed almost balmy!  I walked around the lake and just for a few minutes the sky was beautiful.  Then the clouds took over and it was  cloudy for the rest of my walk. I've posted another sky picture from this morning on my photo blog also where the sky was pink. It's amazing how fast the sky changes. I only saw four other people out and didn't see them until I was more than half way around the lake.  I saw a deer in the woods with a huge set of antlers and then later along the path I saw three more deer. 
I walked 6.4 miles.

Sunrise 7:21

Sunset 4:46

Have you noticed that the sunset time is getting later, 

and the sunrise is getting later too.

It won't be long before our days will be starting to get longer again. :-)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We enjoyed watching A Christmas Story last night.  The part where Ralphie is helping his dad change the tire and he says the F word reminds me of the time when David and Debbi were little kids about 4 and 5.  They were outside playing and Debbi comes running in crying saying David called her the F Word.  Turns out that is what he called her, he got mad at her and said "You F Word!"

The weather report called for snow this afternoon. So I went out this morning because as you can imagine Corvettes aren't so great in the snow.  I was in Ross and looked out the window and it had already started snowing.  So I got to drive home in the snow.  It was already starting to stick on the roads. When Stopped at a red light I took the picture.  I'm pretty sure this is the first time my car as been out in the snow.  Not realizing the roads were slippery already I gave it too much gas and fished tailed around a corner.  It was nice to get home and park her safely in the garage. 

While at Ross I found three pair of jeans to buy.  I always have good luck buying jeans there.

Once home save and sound I decided to do a little baking.  Today I made Pfeffernuesse Cookies.  I listened to the audio book Twenty Wishes by Debbi Macomber while in the kitchen and finished it.  That makes book number 49.  That leaves 26 more to go till the end of the year!

Here are the cookies out of the oven cooling.

 Cooled and rolled in icing sugar and ready to eat.

I make these every year and only at Christmas time.  I love these cookies and don't know why I don't make them more often.  The recipe is HERE.

I had to break down and use the dryer today.  We were running out of clothes and the weather just isn't cooperating with me for hanging them outside.

It's been a busy day and I still haven't done my exercise dvd so off I am to do that now. No time for reading and knitting so that will have to wait until tonight. 
I still haven't decided what to make for supper yet.  Ravioli, Spaghetti, or Baked Ziti.

Hope you had lots to smile about today!
A smile from me to you.

Happyone :-)

Fail not to call to mind, 

in the rouse of the twenty-fifth of this month,

that the Divinest Heart that ever walked the earth

was born on that day;

and then smile and enjoy yourselves for the rest of it;

for mirth is also of Heaven's making.

~Leigh Hunt 

Saturday on Wednesday

I walked around the lake this morning.  The temperature today was 16.  Though there was a slight breeze it was nothing like the wind of the past couple of days so it didn't feel as cold.  A few other people were out as well and were just as bundled up as I was. Ken took a picture of me as I got back from my walk today wearing all seven layers.  Now you can see why I'm not cold in these low temperatures. 
Spotted a couple of deer in the woods and all the geese were around as usual.  I heard a woodpecker but couldn't find him in the tree.  My son called and we had a nice talk while walking.  Didn't talk that long because my hand was getting cold holding onto the phone.  I walked 6.5 miles.

Sunrise 7:20

Sunset 4:45

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Last night we watched a program on television about people who have gone a bit overboard on decorating the outside of their houses with Christmas lights.  Some people spend months putting up lights for some fantastic displays.  It was a fun show to watch.  I thought maybe the street in Baltimore that I took the video of last week would be on it, but it wasn't.

Today seemed like Saturday because Ken took the day off and we spent it like a Saturday.  We were out and about doing errands.  We finally made it to Anne's House of Nuts without having to wait on a long line to get into the place.  We didn't get to save the $10 but had fun loading up our basket with goodies. :-)  One of things we got were chocolate covered raisins.  I haven't had any of those in years!

I found some time to start knitting a baby hat and got a little reading done too.
In just a little while we are off again to get some pizza at Ledo's.  There are so many of them around here and we are going to go to one which we haven't been to before.  I like their pizza a lot but it is very different from regular pizza.

This evening we are going to watch A Christmas Story.  My snack will be a little sampling of the goodies we got at Anne's.

I hope you had a happy day.
A smile from me to you.
Happyone :-)

Christmas is not as much about opening our presents

as opening our hearts.

~Janice Maeditere

My Favorite Candle

Another one of those cold winter mornings.  18 degrees and very windy.  I walked along the neighborhood paths on not any particular route of mine.  I just let my feet go where they wanted.  When I'm walking along the paths lined with trees, they protect me from the wind quite a bit. As I listened to the wind howling above me I could hear some of the trees rubbing against each other making a creaking sound like a door opening.
As you can imagine there were only a few people out and they were all walking dogs.  I saw a couple of deer at the edge of a path and many squirrels.  An uneventful walk but a good one all the same.
I walked 6.5 miles.  It was up to 22 degrees when I got home.

Sunrise 7:19

Sunset 4:45

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tuesday once again so the morning was a rush trying to get out of the house to go to my knitting group.  I left my car at home and drove the FJ today.  I don't drive it all that often but that too is a fun car to drive.  I sit up so high and get such a good view of things.  I feel like I'm driving a bus.

Since I was just at the library on Sunday I made myself pass up the library today.  I could have dropped a book off, but I knew I would end up with another book if I went anywhere near the library!

I took some chocolate chip cookies and stopped off at Gertie's house on the way home.  She is the 89 year old woman who I met walking.  I haven't seen her for awhile and I don't know her phone number so couldn't call to see if she was at home.  I had asked her one time if she would mind if I stopped by some time for a visit and she told me any time.  Anyway I was disappointed to find her not at home. I left a card and the cookies on her door knob and will stop by another day.

Then it was home for lunch, and doing some every day house chores that I didn't get done this morning.

 Ken received a Mistletoe Yankee Candle as a Christmas gift from someone at work and I just love the fragrance!!  Since we don't have a real tree this is just perfect.  No messy needles but still the smell of Christmas.  I have it lit whenever I'm home. When this burns itself out, I'm going to go buy another one.

I have a few more house chores to do for the day and then I'm going to sit in my chair by the window near the Christmas tree and read. 
I hope where you are that you are staying nice and warm.  It has been very windy here all day and as I look at my thermometer now it says 24!
A smile from me to you.
Happyone :-)

A Christmas candle is a lovely thing;

It makes no noise at all,

But softly gives itself away.

~Eva Logue

breakfast lunch brunch whatever

Yesterday I walked around the lake.  It was the morning that the Sunrise Walkers met at the pavilion for a little get-together.  There were donuts to eat and water and coffee to drink.  I stopped by for 15 minutes or so.  I would have stayed longer but had to go home to get ready for church.  It was nice to meet some of the walkers and to talk to other people who know exactly how I feel about my morning walk! :-) That empty spot in the donut box with the red icing is the one I ate!  I'll just have to walk an extra lap around the lake to use up those calories. :-)  More people and food showed up while I was there and there was quite a crowd.  It was a warm wet morning with a temperature of 52.

This morning I left on my walk an hour later than usual. Since it was very warm yesterday and rainy and the temperature dropped to freezing, I thought there might be some icy spots around.  I waited for it to be light out so I would be able to at lease see where I was walking to avoid those spots. Other people had the same idea because I saw some of the earlier people out walking later too.  It wasn't that bad but there were a few icy spots, mostly on the footbridges like the one I took a picture of.  My new thermometer told me it was 30 degrees.  It was a cloudy morning with a few very light snow showers while walking.  By the time I got home I could see some blue sky up there in the clouds.  The wind is back.  When the wind was at my back it pushed me along and made me laugh, but walking into it was not so much fun. 
I walked around the lake again.  I saw a rabbit which I haven't seen in quite a while.  The heron was there at the edge of the water and the many geese were seen on the water and on the grass.  There are so many of them there now, you have to watch where you step on the path or you might step in something green!  I spotted three deer this morning too.
I walked 6.7 miles.

Sunrise 7:19

Sunset 4:45

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Last night we watched It's a Wonderful Life.  No matter how many times I watch that movie it always makes me cry.  Sad tears and happy tears. It is my favorite Christmas movie.  Next we will be watching A Christmas Story - another one I have to watch every year.

I don't eat breakfast until I get back from my walk and since I got back late I decided to skip breakfast and just eat an early lunch but eat a breakfast meal.  After reading that line over I could have said I ate a late breakfast and skipped lunch.  Anyway I made pancakes and even put a little dab of whipped cream on them.  I usually just eat one pancake but since it was a combination breakfast/lunch I ate two.  I guess that would be called  brunch!!  Whatever you want to call the meal, it was delicious!! :-)

I wrapped the last two presents and put them under the tree.  We are NOT allowed to touch them. 
I baked another batch of chocolate chip cookies.  I mixed mint chocolate chips with the usual chocolate chips. I made them for a party we will be going to on Saturday so I put them in the freezer. 

Read another book in the cat series, The Cat Who Sang for the Birds by Braun which now puts my total for the year at 48. I'll be able to read more by the end of the year but that will still leave me far short of the 75 goal.  Yesterday we stopped at the library.  I have been going on Tuesdays after my knitting group and Ken hasn't been for a while so I stopped in with him.  So do you think I made it in and out without getting a book?  If you said no, you are right.  Two more for me!!  I think that means I'll be reading later. :-)

Tonight for supper I'm making Pepper and Onion Burritos.  Click HERE is you care to see the recipe.

Right now I'm off to do my exercise DVD.

A happy day to you.
A smile from me to you.
Happyone :-)

I sometimes think we expect too much of Christmas Day.

We try to crowd into it the long arrears 

of kindliness and humanity of the whole year.

As for me, 

I like to take my Christmas a little at a time,

all through the year.

And thus I drift along into the holidays.

~David Grayson

Change my Heart

I just got back from church and this is one of the hymns we sang today.  

I really like it and thought I'd share it with you.

Have a wonderful Sunday.
Happyone :-)

Left over snow, ornaments and no nuts

 The dusting of snow yesterday that disappeared in an hour at my house is staying just a bit longer a couple of miles away.  This morning on my walk I went down this snow covered path.  There were some icy patches around too.  I walked one of my connect the path routes.  A cold, cloudy morning but no wind at all.  Bundled up I stayed nice and warm.  Just a few people out walking dogs.  I was glad to see some deer about again.  Three of them stayed close to the path as I walked by.  When I talked to them they didn't even run away. 
I walked 6.4 miles.

Sunrise 7:17

Sunset 4:44

The sun continues to set at this time once again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Last night Ken and I went to Ram's Head on Stage in Annapolis to see Paula Poundstone.  She was funny and we enjoyed the show.  We went to the early show and on the way home stopped in at Weiss and got some ice cream.  It's been quite a while since we had any.  I got my current favorite flavor of Vanilla Fudge Twirl.  It was nice to come home, get into my pj's and sit down with a nice bowl of ice cream.  Life is Good!! :-)

Today we went out and about and did a few errands.  There were lots of cars on the roads and in parking lots but surprisingly there were no lines in the stores.  I think the main reason for no lines was that ALL the cashiers were open for a change.  

Found these cute little ornaments and will hang them on the tree in just a little while.

We also got a new thermometer so I'll be able to once again know how cold it is in the morning.  This new one as two parts to it and it is wireless.  One part is outside and the other you keep inside.  Very convenient.  I'll leave it upstairs and in the morning will know how many layers to put on while walking.  Our weather is so changeable that one morning it may be warm and the next freezing cold again. 

One of our stops was going be Anne's House of Nuts.  It is usually not open on Saturday and they were having a big sale.  I had a coupon and if you spent $25 you got $10 off.  Well, when we pulled up by it there was a long line about a block long just to get into the store (it's a pretty small store).  There was no way we were going to wait in the cold on line to just get into the store so we left.  It just wasn't worth the $10 savings.  We stopped by later again and there was still a line. 

We are home for a while now and later we will be going out for pizza!!!  Something I am looking forward to!  

Hope your Saturday is going fine and you found lots to be happy about. 

A smile from me to you.

Happyone. :-)

Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas

if you stop opening presents and listen.

~Author unknown

The first dusting of snow

This morning the temperature was 20 degrees when I walked.  It was a cloudy morning but no breeze.  It's hard to believe but at one point I was actually sweating!  Just a hand full of people out again.  I walked around the lake but didn't take the upper path called the bunny trail.  Instead I stayed near the water all the way around.  Then passed up the path that I usually take leading home and kept walking and went up another path that leads to another way into the park.  Then just walked up the road and around the block and home.  I won't be able to make pit stops anymore until spring now that the closed for the winter sign is up.

 How would you like to be this poor guy up there on a cold day?

The only wildlife I spotted today were those geese again all over the ice on the lake.
A couple in a car stopped and asked me directions to the medical center near here.  When I told them, they said we were just over that way and it's not there.  I'm thinking, it was there a few minutes ago when I walk passed it.  I don't think anyone   moved it. What I said to them was, Well sorry, I guess I can't help you then. 
I walked 7 miles.

Sunrise 7:16

Sunset 4:44

Sunset as been the same for the last eight days!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Just staying around home this afternoon doing a little of this and that.  I happened to look out the window and saw that it was snowing out.  We got our first little dusting of snow.  I took this picture out the back door.

An hour later it was all gone. :-)

I have a few other little things to do and then it will be time for my usual late afternoon reading or knitting. 
A happy Friday to you.

A smile from me to you.

Happyone :-)

Gift of time and love are surely the basic 

ingredients of a truly merry Christmas.

~Peg Bracken

Christmas Cards

The radio said the temperature was 19 degrees this morning. Only today there was no wind at all and it felt much warmer.  A very quiet uneventful walk around the lake.  Just a hand few of people were out.  A few cardinals were around looking pretty against the brown trees.  They look so pretty year round with the red against the white of snow or green of summer.
The lake has a thin coating of ice on it now.

I walked 6.5 miles

Sunrise 7:15

Sunset 4:44

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Today I made Christmas cards for my two kids and four grandchildren. A time consuming project but a fun thing to do. I also wrapped presents and I'm just about done with it all.  Just have a couple more to wrap.  We don't buy a lot of stuff so I am really not stressed at Christmas time. 

A lot of people I know don't send Christmas cards out anymore and I'm joining that group of people this year. It's not a fun thing to do anymore because there are just too many to write out.  I like to write a little something in each card and it takes forever.  Some people just send you a card because you sent them one. Then sending cards just becomes an obligation and I just don't want to do to that anymore.  What I am going to do though, is throughout the year, make a thinking of you card and write a letter to each person who would have been on my card list that I only hear from at Christmas. They will surprised to get a card and letter from me sometime during the year.

Didn't really do much of anything else today.  Just the regular house chores that had to be done.

I'm off now to make a recipe of Bean Soup that I haven't made in years.  I found it among my recipes while making up my shopping list yesterday.  It's a cold day out and just perfect for an evening of some nice hot soup. 

I hope this Thursday you found bits of happiness scattered through the day.

A smile from me to you.

Happyone :-)

I will honor Christmas in my heart,

and try to keep it all the year.

~Charles Dickens

Commissary Day

I walked one of my connect the path routes this morning.  It didn't seem as cold because the wind wasn't as strong,  just a little breeze.  The wind did pick up later after I was back home.  It was sunny and that even makes the cold nice.  The crossing guard was very friendly again and I stopped to chat. She's probably just bored and is happy when someone stops to talk to her.  She doesn't get many kids to cross because most get rides.  I guess the young people can't take the cold!! :-)
I saw and heard a couple of hawks of some kind high up in the trees talking to each other on either side of the path.
A few people out walking dogs and that was it.
A nice invigorating brisk 6.2 mile walk.

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Here's a picture of our Christmas tree.  It looks bigger than it actually is.  It's a very skinny tree and is my height which is 5'5'.  I really like it though and like to just sit there looking at it.  The white and red lights are calming to me and I love the shimmering tinsel.

My mom tells me that the first Christmas her and my dad were married and didn't have much money they did their entire tree in just blue lights and tinsel.  That must have been so pretty.  I just might do that next year!!

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My pantry was getting quite low, so it was time again to make a trip to the commissary.  I made out a list and was out the door at 10.  I took the highway and was there in no time.  Renovations continue and some of the aisles are engulfed in plastic and we have a couple of VERY narrow aisles that are marked One Way.  Interesting place the commissary, you never know what it's going to be like.  Makes food shopping an adventure!

I was going to go home the back way but there were detours to get off the base that way and traffic was backed up, so I turned around and went out the other gate and took the highway home also.

My green bags all filled with good things to eat.

 The contents of the bags sit here waiting to be put away.

 I like putting everything away and having a pantry nice and full.  What a good thankful feeling!  

After looking at all the food, I was hungry and had my lunch.

This afternoon I tackled some items on my to do list for the day.  Each morning I've been writing out a list now and keeping it on my desk top.  It really does help me get more done.

I'm off now to do what I usually do late afternoon.  Read and knit - my reward for working!

A happy and productive day to you.

Happyone :-)

There has been only one Christmas,

the rest are anniversaries.

~ W.J.Cameron