Almost Sunday, Jan. 8, 2011

Wow it seems like this month is going by quickly. It doesn't seem possible... Well I know it is. I was thinking Monday night, just think the Winter break went by so quickly, I would be getting ready to go back to work already... Retirement is great. I don't have to work. I don't even feel like substitute teaching. Woo hoo. My great husband and I are planning our first vacation for 2011.  I plan to do some family research and he is going motorcycle riding. We are going to be camping on some of this trip.
My second trip of the year will be to visit my family in England and Wales. I am so excited. I do not know what gifts to take. Something made in America.
I try hard to find items made in America, but to my surprise I had purchased yarn made in England to make Katelyn's dress. Oh well at least that is a country I don't mind purchasing goods from.  I will ask my family about some gift ideas to take to England and Wales.

Things to take to Wales

My husband told me I need to think of gifts for my family in Wales. I plan to go visit them soon.
I am not sure exactly what to take. ...
It is a long plane ride so I need things that can travel easily.
I know that I must take pictures. I think I may contact Rodz and see if I can mail my packages ahead of time.... but they can't open until I get there.

My second post for 2012

I am currently working on a Katelyn's Valentine dress. It is going good. I can't wait to finish. I plan to do some beading on it. Not sure exactly what method I plan to use yet. I will just have to see it finished and decide what I believe will look best.
Maybe I should actually make another braid first and then see how I want to go about beading.
Hummm to many things to think about at this time of the evening.

It's 2012

It is now 2012. I thought that retiring would be hard. Well, I am busy all the time. I have been crocheting and knitting. I have baked and made things for the men at the homeless shelter.
I will try and post more things as the month progresses. I will not commit to a post each day.

Spring, hurry and get here....

Okay my husband is ready for spring. I asked why? Well it turns out to be my helmet and he is trying to size it to his head. .... Wait then it will be to large for me!

2011 gone... 2012 here

We welcomed in the New Year at home, the two of us, watching The Big Bang Theory, toast and new year kiss.
Today we are having traditional corn beef and cabbage. My mother will celebrate the feast with us this evening.
Rachel is here with us. She skated in the New Year and grandmum's home is where is comes to "crash" for the day.
Here is wishing all of you a very prosperous new year, even if it is only having a better year with family and friends, finding God in your religious preference, or inner peace and health.
Happy New Year.

BUCKET LIST

Wow I don't know what to list in here.
1. Go visit my family in the old country.
2. Win the lottery
3.
An unrealistic item would be a time machine. I would love to go back in time and find out about my family. Take a camera, digital, and then everyone would think, WHAT?!?

I think that my only goal that I have not achieved in life is to go visit my family in the old country. I want to visit Ferndale where my grandmother was born. Go to Montgomeryshire to visit where grandpa is from. See the parishes where my family attended worship. Try to find out where the butcher shop was in Aberdare.
I am basically satisfied with my life.

The things I have achieved:
1. graduated from high school
2. graduated from college
3. married the love of my life
4. have great children
5. have great grandchildren
6. traveled all over
7. retired
8. feel like I am the richest person in the world with my wonderful family and friends

How old does a baby need.....

http://www.babyworld.co.uk/information/baby/swimming/swimming_lessons.asp

Here is an article about babies learning to swim. My children all learned very young.

Miss Ashley

Tomorrow is my Miss Ashley's birthday. I sure hope she comes by to see her grandma so she can get her birthday gift. Love you Missy.

Katelyn...

I am making Katelyn a dress for Christmas. Knitting... yeah. I love making homemade presents. This was something I had my children do each Christmas.
They purchased gifts also, but I so wanted them to understand that a gift made with your own two hands and the love and thought was priceless.
I really don't enjoy shopping. It is hard to shop when there are so many people and you think, After Christmas this will be really cheap..... (Remember to get gift receipts for each gift.)
 I have some coupons I may decide to use.
Katelyn will be here for Christmas. This will probably be the last Christmas that Lara and Chris spend with us.
It is so sad in some ways. I love having all my family here for Christmas. I digress. However, all of my grandchildren have spent their first Christmas at my home. Katelyn is too. Santa chimney is ready for the Santa lists. Rachel and Ashley started this many Christmas ago. Austin and Devon have enjoyed it also.
Now Katelyn will at Thanksgiving in a few years.
Have fun at Christmas. Remember that this is Jesus' birthday and that he is giving the gift of sharing, sharing his special day with every individual that believes.

GET THE 700 CLUB OFF THE AIR

Every time the idiots that are on the 700 Club come on, I run hard to change the channel. The idiots open their mouths and PUKE rolls out.
I am a registered Republican... However I think they are acting like idiots.... Of course if you look into the background of the 700 Club founder you will see how much money he has SUCKED out of the people who want to listen to him. He needs to shut up.... Religion and GOVERNMENT should not be mixed. I absolutely HATE this man. Hate is a harsh world. But this man makes me hate REPUBLICANS more than I already do.
I think because of him I will most definitely vote for a DEMOCRAT this next election.... obviously the REPUBLICANS are acting like a bunch of spoiled rich kids.... wait that is what congress is ..... SPOILED RICH KIDS THAT ARE IDIOTS!!!!!!!!!!
By the way check out the grades they made in school.... UGH~ I think congress is the only thing those RICH Kids can do.

Quickly Approaching...

Christmas is quickly approaching. The end of 2011 is not far away.
This time last year my mother was ill. Not enough yet to be in the hospital, but very close. She almost died Christmas Eve. Thank goodness for medical science she survived. All it was --- her gall bladder. However because of medical mess-up she almost died. For some reason when they give her IVs they fill the cavity around her heart with fluid. Now we have to deal with the after effects of congestive heart failure.
This year we plan to celebrate with her still being here. She seems to be in Okay health, however there are times when I worry about her.
I still need to do Christmas shopping. Retirement has made it so that I seem to think I have a lot of time. Housework is completed quickly, then the rest of the day comes. I crochet. I have crochet many hats for the fellows at the mission, the homeless. Hopefully they will help keep their heads warm.
Next year I think my daughter and I may make lots of cards for the fellows at the VA. Maybe we will make some for them for Valentine Day. Who knows. I need to win the lottery so that I can do all of these things.

Christmas... a time of true giving.

Christmas... a time of true giving.

Our children growing up had the fortunate experience of helping the less fortunate. We weren't rich by any means, however we did make room in our small budget to help others.
Each Christmas the kids would get a family from a list at our local Salvation Army. We would go purchase presents for them. (We always tried to find a family with the same composition as ours or at least close to ours.) The kids loved shopping for the families. We would get to deliver the gifts. Leaving them on the front porch, knocking and running to the car that was running with the doors open. One family heard us, opened the door, invited the kids and us in, lugging in their ten 30 gallon bags of goodies for the family, (I am not kidding how many bags they had.) Bags with coats for each child, underwear, socks, jeans, shirts and toys... And a Christmas meal fixings. The smiles.... This family was living in only one room of the house. They couldn't afford to heat the house... a small space heater sat in the living room. My kids were in shock and awe....They have never forgotten that family...
Also each year our children would get names off  the tree in the mall. They would purchase a gift, wrap it, label it and give it to the person at the desk. That always made them feel so good about themselves.
Our children would go through their toys and the ones that where really good and that they did not play with would be given to the local women's shelter for the children there to have to play with.
I am so proud of my children. They are adults now, however they still carry on the tradition of helping others. Even if their budgets are a little tight.
Find a family. Give some love. Secret Santa is fun to play. Don't expect a thank you as this way the families don't know who you are.

In my area....

Anyone looking for a place to can, cook for a large party, etc. Here is a website to check out.
http://mycooksworkshop.com/

Thanksgiving

Wow am I tired. I have cooked and baked for 2 weeks. We had a house full of family. Two really new babies and more.... It was such a great day.
Mom was here... her 93rd Thanksgiving. She was so kind as to allow me to use refrig space for food....
Another year.... -

Christmas

Have we lost the spirit of Christmas? When I was a child we received a few gifts from Santa and one or two gifts from our parents, which always knew Santa was bringing something with batteries, which they wrapped and put under the tree...
Today it is like how many more things can we get them?
Our youngest daughter does not want Christmas to be that way. She and her husband want a gift or two for their daughter from others, nothing big, but thoughtful.
I don't think a bag of cotton candy from Walmart and a package of gum is a true Christmas gift. I have always tried to do more for the granddaughters whose father truly believes he has given them a great gift of cotton candy and gum. But that is another post.
Just what is the true meaning of Christmas? It is Jesus' birthday. I have explained to my children more than once, that Santa brings gifts to you because Jesus is willing to share his birthday with you. Even though he is not a "living" person as we know it, he lives inside of you. So giving is the important part of Christmas, not getting.
I want to celebrate Christmas in July, not December. I will have a tree at the traditional time, however the weather is bad and it is not always easy getting to the house for the kids. It makes so much more sense to celebrate it when we all get together in July. If we aren't all going to church as a family on Christmas Eve, it just doesn't seem fitting. (Two of my granddaughters only get to go to their Church every other Christmas.)
I have one daughter who doesn't want this. I say they are already getting enough at Christmas, why not spread it out. Besides the stores will have Christmas stuff out already in July. I guess it really doesn't matter when you celebrate it. It is all about Commercialism and business getting rich from communist made, slave workers made, lead ridden goods from China... and that is another post.
Celebrate Christmas with the true spirit. Remember it is not the price of a present or how many presents, it is the feelings of giving and caring. It really doesn't need to be celebrated only on Christmas Eve and day, but all year long.
Remember that CHRIST is the REASON for the SEASON!

Black Friday

I was just reading an article about a young man upset because he has to go to work at 11 pm on Thanksgiving... When I was much younger you did not see Christmas or Black Friday merchandise out until Black Friday.

I worked for a department store. On Thanksgiving evening we would go in for a few hours and get the store ready for the next morning. Stores opened at 7 am that day. Today the Christmas trees are up in the stores before Halloween.
The spirit of Christmas is not the same. It is all about retail and making the rich richer.

I am hand making small personal gifts for each of my children and grandchildren. I just think Christmas is out of hand.
I had one daughter tell me they still had $1000 a piece to spend on their two children.... What? I know they have already spent well over $500  a piece on the them. Christmas .... well that is another blog post.

crochet anyone

I have gotten in the mood to crochet. I am participating in a group of others that are crocheting. I have made 3 stocking type caps and  3 doilies.  I am working on a granny square afghan.

Payton Manning.....

Okay so they may release Payton because his neck doesn't seem to be healing... well treat him for holding babies wrong neck pain.... Treatments aren't working so see how much he is holding his twins. Holding them can cause neck pain that is unexplained.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=dw-wetzel-peyton_manning_no_real_progress_110311

Congress take notice...

Congress take notice, Americans are tired of you and your fringe benefits.  Hereis what is circulating on FB....

 David Howerton
No longer "an interesting idea" -- time for this to be our ACTION PLAN: *Congressional Reform Act of 2011* 1. No Tenure / No Pension. A Congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office. 2. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security. All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people. It may not be used for any other purpose. 3. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do. 4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%. 5. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people. 6. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people. 7. All contracts with past and present Congressmen are void effective 1/1/12. The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen. Congressmen made all these contracts for themselves. Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their term(s), then go home and back to work. If each person contacts a minimum of twenty people then it will only take three days for most people (in the U.S.) to receive the message. Maybe it is time. THIS IS HOW YOU FIX CONGRESS!!!!! If you agree with the above, pass it on.