Christmas is just a week away and as I travel about I see the colors of Christmas in lots of places.
The traditional colors of red and green, together with glittering gold, sparkling silver, winter white and a bit of blue make it pretty clear that it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. As I drive in and out of my driveway, I get to see those Christmas colors.
And we are enjoying the nightly splash of color coming from our Christmas tree that stands on the porch. Even our fur family seems to be enjoying the season.
Here's to a peaceful and happy holiday season, and stay tuned for some more of my favorite Christmas things.
77 comments:
Well, guys, these are some of the things I have
been getting ready for the last couple of weeks. I am really glad I managed to get the
outside work done since it is really cold now.
The Christmas tree on my porch is real and the
water in the stand is now frozen.
There is a possibility of another snowstorm this weekend, but it may pass to the south.
Coreen, just as I expected, your decorations are beautiful and bring on the Christmas cheer!
If I take pics of my place for the party, I will display the other end of the spectrum, Christmas on de Bayou, not near as classy.
And I just bet Chloe's cats would second the motion of her throwing bird seed out in her yard. They are probably licking their lips at the proposition.
Carol, your party pics will be wonderful, and
Christmas on de Bayou will be just beautiful, your warmth & kindness will be shining through, just as it does here.
And I am sure your guests will feel welcome & happy.
I and I'm sure everyone here, will be there in
spirit with you.
This says it all:
I Can See Clearly Now
More beautiful pictures and more beautiful Christmas spirit Coreen. You house and land is so beautiful, and that long driveway is to die for. Add your talent to that, and you've got it all.
Love that song you linked Carol. Someone did a nice job on the video too.
It's a whole different world, when we get our 'clear' skies back. I feel totally different, when the sun's shining warmly through my windows in the winter. Better.
Oh, and from the last thread Coreen:
" I try to get out as soon as the snow stops & clear a patch, & that is not getting any easier, as each year goes by..."
That is so sweet and caring. I just love that about the people here - they not only care for their own pets, but wildlife also. Nature always seems to need our help.
" I just bet Chloe's cats would second the motion of her throwing bird seed out in her yard."
Oh no Carol. I knew better than to spread seed on the ground. I had a very high pole in the ground with a large feeder tray on top - a poll too thin for them to climb. But I had to keep a ladder next to it so I could but the seed in the tray, and the cats started climbing that ladder. Plus the birds would drop seed overboard and then once it got on the ground, the inexperienced birds would go after it. I lost 'very few' birds, but it was a constant burden, chasing animals away from the feeder. And one bird hurt, was one bird too many. I finally made the difficult decision to stop feeding, and now I never see them catch a bird. The birds have outsmarted them, TG.
Things are now harmonious again. My cats are well fed, and never have to hunt for food. Plus, they don't wander, but stay within the confines of the fencing (which is around five acres - we worked long and hard on that).
I was going to link this the other day, but don't think I ever did. I found it particularly interesting because my hormone that controls appetite doesn't seem to be working very well this winter.
Hormone that curbs hunger may guard against Alzheimer's
"High levels of a hormone that controls appetite appear to be linked to a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, US research suggests." The hormone leptin is produced by fat cells and tells the brain that the body is full and so reduces appetite.
... someone tell me how to get my hands on some 'leptin'.
Coreen,
I love your Christmas pictures. You've done a wonderful job decorating. I think the only thing I'm going to put up is Petey's(my dog) stocking.
Chloe,
I must have alot of leptin in my body because I haven't had much of an appetite lately. I was trying to think of what I ate yest.. It was toast for breakfast with some eggnog, pineapple & cottage cheese for a snack and toast for supper. I've been on a toast kick.
Thanks for the compliments guys. I do it for
myself, as much as for others to see, I enjoy the spirit of Christmas.
Mary, can we ever see a pic of petey....do
petey & maggie get along...
and Mary,I remember Carol called you the qvc queen, so you may recognize my inside christmas tree & mantel nativity (paconi) all from qvc...
Mary, I eat toast, tea & OJ for breakfast all the time...
Lunch sometimes I eat out,others just a quick
snack at the desk....
Lots of 'big salads', pizza, fruit & fish, but
never had a big appetite...
Not sure, did you ever say whether you are going to Carol's for her party, if you are, maybe you can take some pics, while she is
hostessing...
Coreen,
I think I'm going to Carol's for her party. I do turn into a pumpkin pretty early these days. I'll have to remember to take my camera.
Petey just got his hair cut and a new bandana for Christmas. I haven't figured out how to pictures here yet. I'll have to get Carol to when she has time. Petey and Maggie do get along great.
Coreen, beautiful pictures. I love the santa hat on top of your tree. Your woods with the snow on the ground look so inviting. Thank you for sharing it all with us.
Mary, I would like to see a pic of Petey too.
Interesting article on Leptin.
Carol, great song - I have always liked that song. The pictures were nice too.
Carol, when is your party?
Very beautiful decorations, Coreen. Thanks so much for posting the pictures. That oughta keep us in the spirit for a bit.
A word of caution to your guests, Carol, not to take the slightest chance with drinking and driving (my Jose Christmas Cookie recipe notwithstanding). A friend of time had a terrible experience with getting pulled over. She had not been drinking, but it was humiliating and traumatic nonetheless. How much worse it might have been if she had been drinking. I know police are "just doing their job," but they seemingly have leveled the anti-discrimination playing field by treating everyone in the same low regard.
The cautionary tale is take no chances this holiday season.
That was "a friend of mine," but I'm sure you got it.
Hey Ivy, they are having lots of DWI check points right now but most of the people coming to the party have commissions. Most work at the Sheriff's department and even the nurses are commissioned officers. They certainly ought to know or know somebody.
Since I work for the hospital and not the Sheriff's department, I'm not commissioned. Good thing because the power might go to my head. When I got a school crossing guard badge in the sixth grade, I tried to arrest one of the younger kids at school. I don't handle having that kind of authority well.
I don't remember if we covered mistletoe myths in our earlier "wicked weeds" segment.
Kiss of Death
Jan, the party is tomorrow night.
Chloe, I don't have a problem with knowing that I am full, I have a problem with keeping food out of my mouth.
I'm glad I didn't openly disparage your law enforcement guests, Carol, but I am very upset about how my friend was "handled." Only good thing I can say is it didn't occur in your home state or mine. I will leave the matter by just saying there may be some states where the force collectively has an attitude problem.
Coreen, your pictures are beautiful! (Since we're floating on a sea of muddy goop thanks to copious rain here in the knobs, I'm envious!):)
Carol, Just got a phone call from Myrtle Beach,
& it seems that your rain has spread all the
way to the southeast coast...My friend said
it has been raining really hard for hours & is
expected to last til tomorrow & his yard is
pretty soggy...His dog Hugo won't go even venture out.
Are you finally drying out there just in time
for your party.
Fair, Thanks for your kind words. Sorry about
your deluge, seems that the consensus is that
it is raining across a good portion of the USA,
just mentioned that its been pouring in South
Carolina as well.
Fair, for some reason I thought you lived in
Tennessee & local tv showed pics of somewhere in tennessee & virginia getting snow.
And as Carol mentioned, I am a regular reader
of your blogs, I so enjoy your stories & the
music history.
When I read this op-ed by Michael Feinstein, (NYT)just had to bring it over, not only a timely observation but it reminded me of what
is often stated here...Solar you are being paged.
"The evolution of Christmas is reflected to a degree in its music."
"In my holiday shows, I"m always looking for novel expressions of the season & when I introduce a new song, I don't usually think about the religion of its creator. That said,
I'm pleased to discover a surprising juxtaposition. It doesn't take Freud to figure out that the sugarplums, holly & mistletoe all tap into a sense of comfort,longing,security & peace that so many fervently desire; that we all wish the cliches were true. As Jews, Christians, Muslims, Mormons, Buddhists & everything in between, we are all more alike than we are different. That's something to celebrate."
Whose Christmas Is It?
Ivy, Jan, glad you liked the pics...
Jan, had to think a little about what you meant about liking the 'santa hat' on the top of the tree...wish I could oblige, but the topper is really an angel in a red dress, with white trim & white wings...the angle I snapped the pic had her cut off & looking at it now, I can see the santa hat resemblence....
And Jan, the more I think about it, that may
be a good topper for one of next year's trees,
I'll make it a point of picking up a 'santa
hat' & give it a try....
"I don't have a problem with knowing that I am full, I have a problem with keeping food out of my mouth."
Carol, LOL. Come to think of it, that's the same problem I have.
I wonder if that means leptin won't do me any good. I can't figure out if I'm going to get Alzheimers now, because I don't know about the leptin. I do have a lot of cravings, but I'm not sure that's part of leptins job or not.
Coreen, Is that a stream behind that lamp post in the second picture. I'm admiring your pictures and land again - just couldn't be sure whether or not that was water I was seeing.
I liked the idea of the Santa hat on top of the tree too. I thought it was Mary that said that, but I'm not sure - it could have been Jan.
Jan, I'm glad to see you were here today. Hope you're doing OK with all that's happened. You leave for your trip next week, right?
Hi Chloe, the water you are seeing in the pics
is not a stream, but rather what is nicely
referred to as 'wetlands'.
I think of it as where 'swampthing' lives....
At certain times of the year, it dries out, but then water is there again. In the spring, it does look like a stream, the mallards that come back each spring swim around there, but it does dry out at some point.
Chloe, you have 6 acres, would you ever share
some of what Texas looks like, I would really
like to see your animal family, the horses,
the cats, & whatever else you would like to add...
Only drove across Texas once, but along the
dallas fortworth corridor, never been back again, but would like to see the view from
your backyard too.
Coreen, It's 5 acres. I have a very disorganized, funky photo bucket that I linked once when Carol was trying to get me to actually take some pictures. I ran outside then, and took some fuzzy pictures with my phone camera, so they're not much to look at, but here's the link: http://s613.photobucket.com/home/Chloe-Emma/index
Go about half way down the page for those pictures, and then on to the second page. I do have some pictures of my horses on a camera or phone somewhere. I'll look for them and post them on my photo bucket too, sometime this weekend.
I am getting my new camera for Christmas, and once I figure it out, I 'am' going to get into it (for the first time in my life). Changing is tough.
Well,I'm checking out early.
Carol, I hope you let us know how things are going tomorrow. I know you'll be awfully busy though.
Coreen, I assume you picked up your mom and she's safely home for the holidays. Hope things are going well for her. I guess she is very used to the cold weather. But it must be tough to adjust, after just leaving Florida.
See ya tomorrow.
Chloe, I just looked at the pics, and your property looks more like a forest, I think of here as being just 'woods' but yours is so lush...and not sure but doesn't it stay like that year round...and the horses
seem to be free to wander, but I think you said
the property is fenced, I may be incorrect about that.
I also thought I saw a mimosa tree, not a native of CT. Have seen them here, but not
often.
And the early pics of baby em, in the yellow
outfit, she is a little doll.
I think you will really enjoy taking pics, you
have a wealth of subject matter all around you.
Chloe, yes, mom is back home, just in time for
the snowstorm.....
Why were you hiding those pics Chloe? They're great. I will predict that when you get your new camera and play with it a little while, you will become the chief photographer here. Mark my words!
Ivy, you won't offend me saying that cops can be jerks. Think I don't know that? I work with them. Some are wonderful people and some are big jerks. I've been known to say that the only way you can tell the difference between the cops and the bad guys is that the cops are wearing the badges.
Some go into law enforcement so they can wear a badge and bully people. Another thing is they work with so many thugs that they pick up some of that behavior. After a day with some of my more thuggy patients, I even get a little thuggy myself. When I feel a case of the thugs coming on, I take a little walk outside and get a breath of fresh air.
I have missed out a lot here. It is the end of the semester and so much to do. It is officially over now. I just need to submit my grades. I hate to tell you but I have another "code" I actually think this is H1N1. I had a fever (low) yesterday and my throat was on fire. I am better tonight. The sore muscles and painful joints I had Monday may have been the beginning of it. This has been the worst time with this stuff for me. I missed Convocation today and the Senior students banquet last night. I have just done what is absolutely necessary for work.
Oh well, enough of the complaining. I am enjoying reading comments from everyone. I will catch up tomorrow. The worst of it is I had run out of something good to read - so found 3 good novels,I have heard about, at Costco this afternoon. I have been reading a biography about Einstein and although the stuff about his personal life I find most nteresting, the author is going too much into his theories - and knowing practically nothing about physics (my nurs program didn't require it) I could care less. So I have a good novel to take to bed tonight.
So good nite all. I will catch you tomorrow. Good night Irene. Hope your party is a great one tomorrow in case I miss chatting with you.
The Biocentric Universe Theory: Life Creates Time, Space, and the Cosmos Itself
Jan, I think you have an allergy problem, allergic rhinitis, which affects about 20% of the population. With the frequent recurrence of these upper respiratory illnesses, there is most likely an allergy behind it.
I had a lot of problems with it from around 30 to 50 but then it got better. I must have finally developed an immunity to whatever was giving me my problems. Mine was seasonal.
Allergic rhinitis is the bases for many other things that plague people, pharyngitis, otitis media, bronchitis, pneumonia, etc. I tell my inmates that they have a war going on in their nasal passages, and like any war, there is a lot of devastation. That devastation leads to other infections.
It is weird that the problem usually starts around 30 give or take a few years. I always thought that if you had tendencies for allergies, it started at a much earlier age.
With the billions spent on allergy meds, I have personally found very little that does much. I only one little pityful antihistamine that I have on my formulary. I prescribe it with a strong positive message of it's effectiveness. They love it and swears it works. It's really the message that works. He, he.
There is one thing that I did find helped a little, too expensive for my formulary, and that is those steroid nasal sprays. I used them just prior to when my allergies usually started to plague me.
Don, you're alive! You been busy doing your Christmas shopping or somethin? Did you get a lot of rain?
That's an interesting article you linked. Most of it over my bayou head. Is it kinda like, if a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, does it make any sound??
Don, I particularly liked this little piece of the article:
"If only, after leaving work, they would look out with equal seriousness over a pond and watch the schools of minnows rise to the surface. The fish, the ducks, and the cormorants, paddling out beyond the pads and the cattails, are all part of the greater answer."
Don, that's about as far as I look. I leave any looking farther to the scientists.
Coreen,
Yes, a large portion of our little piece of property is still very much like a forest (which this whole was at one time long before I ever got to Texas), but most of the properties around us have had many of the trees, etc. cut down. The beginning of Sam Houston National Forest is less than 20 minutes north of us.
We have mostly oaks, which do lose their leaves in the winter (although we do have some pines, as well as dogwoods). Also, you're right, the horses are free to roam a large area, because we have cross fencing for them. ps. I looked up mimosa, and yes, we do have mimosa plants out there, I just didn't know what they were called. We leave everything as it is, including falling leaves. The only thing we do is mow our front and the area around the house. But we only need to do that during the growing season.
Carol, You saw these pictures a few months ago. Do you remember you wanted me to go out and take some pictures, and I did it on the spur of the moment. You commented on how much work it must be around here, after seeing the pics.
Jan, I'm sorry to hear that you're sick again. Once you retire, that will stop. You're catching all of these things by being around your students everyday. That's the worst part of Emma starting school. She'll be bringing home illness with her.
Oh boy Carol, You're going to have one heck of a busy day. Good luck!
... as if luck has much to do with it. Hard work, and organization Carol. I don't know how you accomplish so much. Take pictures tonight!!
Dang! I wanted to come back to read Don's article he linked, but I won't have time until I get back later today. I really like the part you linked Carol, and am anxious to read the rest.
See you all later. At least I hope you all will be around for a while. It's a busy season.
Quick check....nothing happening here yet...the
non-stop talk has been that a foot of snow is
on its way...hoping 'they' are wrong.....
lots of traffic yesterday & this a.m., between the get your food before it snows shoppers & the christmas shoppers, the main roads are very busy...but looks like the snow will not start
before mid-afternoon.
Carol, am sure you are all ready for your party
later, enjoy it & hope you will be able to share some pics of the festivities....
Mary, please remember your camera.....
Jan, sorry to hear you are under the weather
just before the holiday & your trip...
Chloe, the mimosa tree is a hummingbird attraction....
Don, so glad to see you popped in. read the
article, still not sure...is the premise 'we
are all the universe' and without us there would be none.....
are you in the snow zone today....
And Solar AWOL again.....
Catch up later....let it snow, let it snow.....
Coreen,
Very nice colors, in and out of your house, which looks very comfortable...I willl go and catch up with the comment now from yesterday, and come back....
Funny Carol, I think i have that war too. But I've never had a cold in my life that I or my mother remember. Just the allergy thing, which never goes away.
Just rain here. We're too close to the coast for snow.
This article connects with some previous. Sub atomic particles called quarks have three properties scientists have names spin, flavor, and charm. If they affect the spin on a particle here, a paired particles thousands of miles away will simulataneously have its spin changed.
Another article on Huffpost the other day stated that a scientist can change the start of an experiment by the decision he makes at the end.
So the question isn't "If a tree falls alone in the forest, does it make a sound?", but "if a tree falls in the forest, does everyone hear it?"
Don,
Almost caught up on what i missed...that is super interesting to me
"a scientist can change the start of an experiment by the decision he makes at the end."
Ok. All caught up now and did not go to the links that Coreen, and Don provided..they are really interesting looking..and yes that is what I believe in:
Don, and Coreen, I will tell you that I do believe in.
Coreen; "is the premise 'we
are all the universe' and without us there would be none....."
Yes and that is why I believe that we are all "IT" U are it, i am it, we are it..and that is that....we are all little bits of GOD. and the universe....we did create time when some kind of life first appeared..not at the big bang..if that is how it all came about...there are a cpl of very interesting theory's about that..for now..I will stick with the big bang, and the expansion of the universe..cos it is what makes so much sense to me..but one other is just as cool..
Don, you link about the scientist in discovery is gong to take a little bit of thinking and than talking about...with out looking at it..sorta makes a little sense....if we look into a dark hole...will we change the outcome of what will be schedules to be.
If the Universe will never end...by looking and messing around in dark holes..will we change that..cos we changed the future????
Now this is aggravating...I hardly ever use spell check, and did this time...not one word misspelled .....you won't even recongnizzze me...
I think life started in the universe, and we hitched a ride here; on some of the really big rocks; that were part of making up our Earth....we are all 13.5 billion years old...all the same age..cept Coreen, Chloe, ; and Carol...anyone that thier names start with a C ....are a little..........
If noone is here im going to read one of those articles now....
Don,
Before I go, did you see where we are going to use a satallite to divide the universe...to try to put a grid on it...pisses me off..People will start to think of the Universe as many seperate ones...like we do the earth...and life....
Coreen,
Thanks for that NYT article.
"It doesn’t take Freud to figure out that the sugarplums, holly and mistletoe all tap into a sense of comfort, longing, security and peace that so many fervently desire; that we all wish the clichés were true. As Jews, Christians, Muslims, Mormons, Buddhists and everything in between, we are all more alike than we are different. That’s something to celebrate."
This is worth celebrating..that we are more alike than we know...Religion is what try's to make us different....To night Im going to tape a special about this that is going to be on cnn..9 pm my time...
I saw where some religion..that are having a hard time..in this economy; have asked their followers to not buy any presents for themselves, for their family; and give those savings to the church..some goof ball family, then came on the air, and said that they used to buy as many as five presents for each other ( 6 of them) and that they will now give that money to the church...this is the Christmas spirit that Im against.
There are many Mothers and Fathers that hardly have enough money to eat..and they will be giving some of what they do have to church...for what..a miracle??
Ok, now for a decoration around the swamp....plenty of mistletoe's..all over the joint...not one place in the swamp that doesn't have one...
Don,
I liked that article..think that I have read it before..but don't remember now..thanks...
The fact that we only have one sense instead of 5 tells me that there is a lot to...
going to go now..but should be back tomorrow around 1-2 in the afternoon, it not monday for sure..about 10 am....very weird schedules now.!
Even tho im a scrooge...I like all of the Christmas spirit here..and all of the decorations...later
Whoa! Did everyone go to Carols party?
Guess I'll have to find some other way to entertain myself tonight. Darn, I should have asked Carol to set up a video camera at her party, and this would be like a 'real' reality show here.
Don, I enjoyed your article link. Somehow, this made complete sense to me: "biocentrism, which holds that the universe is created by life and not the other way around"
But, this made even more sense: "we must find the right conditions for life in our universe, because if such life did not exist, we would not be here to find those conditions."
Well, the way I heard it said once is this way: There are three ingredients necessary for a rainbow to exist. Sun light, moisture and an observers eye to see it. If you take away any one of those three things, then there is no rainbow.
Good Evening Everyone,
Carol's party was a big success. Alot of people came and I've never seen so much food. Besides everything she cooked, everyone else brought food, also. She shouldn't need to cook for awhile. I hope everyone else had a wonderful evening.
Well, it was a big disappointment. The Saint's game, that is. We got our butts whooped. I've been worried the last couple of weeks that this was going to happen.
I was just listening to a interview on the radio with the Saint's coach. He was almost crying, he even might have been.
On the other hand, the party went well. I have all the food put up but the dishes will have to wait until the morning.
Maggie had a particularly good time. She cruised the room picking up goodies from everyone. I hope she doesn't have any reflux tonight and reflux all over our bed.
I meant I hope everyone here had a wonderful evening.
Carol, congratulations on your party. Sounds like everyone had a good time and certainly ate well.
Thanks for all the information on allergic rhinitis. I have had allergies all my life - I take antihistamines daily and use the a steroid nasal spray too. I see little kids every day and had built up some good immunities to all their litte "bugs" until this fall and I don't know what has happened. This last bug I got started with joint and muscle pain last sun nite and continued for about 24 hours and then coughing beginning on tues and then nasal congestion and awful sore throat on Wed. Thurs & friday I had a fever and stayed in bed most of thurs and Fri. I began to feel a little better this morning but still have a terrible cough.
Chloe, I think you are so right. We have had a terrible bout here in Alb with different kinds of viruses since Sept. I do screenings of children for Early Head Start and most have runny noses when I work with them. I know that is where I have caught stuff this year
Sorry to "bug" (no pun intended) you all with my tale of woe.
Since I have been home a lot, I have almost finished the 2nd baby quilt.
Coreen, I am still enjoying your wonderful pictures. Is your mother staying there for the holidays or going back to Florida?
I see where you are getting a snow storm. Hope it is not causing you any problems.
Don, very interesting article. Gives one lots to think about.
Coreen, I looked back at one of your comments. It sounds like you don't have snow yet. I will look forward to hearing from you tomorrow to see if snow has happened.
John and I bought new phones this afternoon. I have had my old one for 4 years. John had to have a Droid. The guy at Verizon asked him why he wanted a Droid - and John very honestly told him "Because my son has one." I got the NV -I think its called. I have no idea how to work it yet - it is still in the box. Been working on the quilt.
Mary, I am glad you went to Carol's party. Have you planned anything else that is fun.
Carol, sorry about your Saints.
Chloe, Just saw your picture bucket. Your place is beautiful with all the trees. I miss the big oak trees. They are wonderful.
Will check with you tomorrow. Nite all.
Yay Carol!. Bet you're a tired puppy.
I've always thought that time and space is an eggshell, while we grow and learn inside. More's the pity when life hands us a difficult time and we complain, because those are a special blessing.
Good morning,
It will definitely be a 'white christmas' here
in CT....
Have not ventured out yet, still snowing lightly, there is a significant amount
of snow, will measure later, but pretty sure
around 8". The main roads, I95 still snow
covered throughout (we have a weather/travel
channel that shows the cameras along I95).
Carol, glad to know your party went well...
Condolences for your Saints, but they gave it
a valiant try in the 4th quarter, actually was
on the radio here. NY Giant fans were hoping
the Saints would win, since Dallas stands in
the way of NY getting into the playoffs.
And if there has to be a loss, better now then
in the playoffs.
Jan,
Mom is back home to stay, she thought she would
stay in Florida for the winter, but changed her mind & came home.
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