Monday, November 30, 2009

Confessions of a Giver


This weeks challenge comes at a time of year when giving is on most peoples mind...our hostess this week is our good friend and frequent host Sayre and here is her assignment.
How will you express your inner-Giver this season? Do you donate to a major charity? Do you serve food in a soup kitchen? Is your generosity something private that you do without recognition or do you hand the guy on the corner a dollar whenever you drive by?Not only do I want to know what you do, but how you do it, why you do it, and a story about your activity and how it made you feel.
The holidays have a way of bringing out the best in most people. We look around and see want in peoples faces who are struggling in these hard economic times. In our small town of Hanover Pa. we have a group of 32 churches that contribute to The area Council of Churches and the changing lives homeless shelter. This is where my Hubby and myself contribute our time and a monetary donation throughout the year and during the holidays. In the past 4 years we have helped deliver Meals on wheels..just to be able to take a meal to someone who is house bound or handicapped or living alone and on a very fixed income, brings a sense of compassion to us. Most of these people are so thankful for this very simple act. It keeps us very humble. My hubby has been volunteering one night a week as a mentor to the people who are living in the shelter and trying to get back on their feet, whether its from drug or alcohol addiction or just people who have lost jobs n homes and have nowhere to go. My Hubby and I have a very Blessed life and never want to forget others who are less fortunate. We try our best to help out not only in the community but our church also. Whether it being donating clothes to the shelter...or the mitten tree at our church, we know that every little bit helps. As Christmas draws near, I will do the angel tree at Walmart and donate a gift to a child. Now go read some more stories about giving Click here. A big Thank You to Sayre for hosting once again!

Friday, November 27, 2009

Switching Gears


It's amazing how fast we can change gears....Guess we are not tooooo Old YET! After a wonderful Thanksgiving yesterday with family....Today we took down all the fall decorations, put them away, got out the Christmas decorations and put up all the outside stuff. Yesterday Fall/today Christmas...just like that! By Sunday, we will have the inside decorated and the tree up! YAY, after that we can sit back n enjoy! Wish Christmas n Thanksgiving were spaced a little further apart. Sometimes I feel so rushed to get it all in!

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving to all


To my friends in the U.S.A I wish you a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving Day. To my friends who do not live in the U.S. and do not celebrate this day...I wish you peace and blessings. Thanks to you all for coming here to visit....click on the link below to see the history of Thanksgiving. Enjoy

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Monday, November 23, 2009

Counting our Blessings

FUN MONDAY


Our wonderful hostess this week is none other then our friend Wendy, here is her challenge...

This week I thought we could consider Thanksgiving Day which will be the following Thursday in the USA. Though I know a lot of us aren’t in the US so don’t celebrate this, it might be nice to share some of the things we are thankful for in our lives.

As I count my blessings..I realize that I have so many in my life and I want to try to keep it short and sweet so here is my short list...

First of all I am so Thankful to be living in a beautiful house in a neighborhood where the neighbors are friendly, kind and caring.



I am Thankful to have such a wonderful Hubby, who is willing to watch the Disney channel when we Babysit for the little ones. And is very considerate of me.
The Lord has blessed me with two loving n caring daughters and good friends who love to come to my home for tea parties!


And last but not least...the blessings of four beautiful grandaugthers, who give me so much Joy in my life.


Thanks for hosting this week Wendy!



































Saturday, November 21, 2009

Here we go Again


THIS HAS ME FIRED UP!

Ok...I am still seeing red! Now us women no longer require Pap test every year...early detection is going out the door for us and I am hopping MAD! What 's next...are we going back to the old days when we had no rights at all. Are you as a woman feeling like your being treated as if your insignificant?? This is such a disgrace! Let me hear how you feel about it.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

What the "H" is going on!!!!

I am writing this in red because that's what I am seeing now! After watching the news today..I am beside myself about the mammogram thing. Now they are saying that women should not start getting Mammo's until they are fifty, unless they have a family history. I have been getting a Mammo since I was forty under the guidelines twenty years ago. Soooo, now I guess its been a total waste of time.....I am at the point that I no longer believe Doctors and ready to say "F" them all. I ask this...is it because of cost...and are the insurance companies at the bottom of this? I would not be surprised. To all my lady friends out there...what do you think about it???

Monday, November 16, 2009

Something Old

FUN MONDAY

Ari has taken the reins this week, here is the challenge....
My question is: What is the oldest possession in your house or flat? Describe it or show us a picture. Where did it come from? Why do you hang on to it?
The oldest possession in my house is this old stick table. As you can see its made out of sticks. As far as I can remember it has always been in our family. We lived with my grandparents growing up and this stick table was a part of the decor. When we moved to another house, it got stored away and I didn't see it again for about 20 years. In that time frame, both of my grandparents and my Mom passed on. My sister moved into the house and lived there for about a year when she n her hubby decided to look in
a storage area that was under the house. There was the stick table all alone and neglected. She brought it out, dusted it off and used it for about a year. One day I was there for a visit and she said..Do you want that thing? My heart leaped at the question...I am a sentimental fool and this stick table brought back such wonderful childhood memories for me. That was about 5 years ago and it has a proud place in my living room where a plant sits on it. I hold onto it because of the memories and it is a very unique piece. I venture to say this little stick table is at least 75 years old or maybe older. Where it came from? I have no idea!
Thanks for hosting Ari.

Friday, November 13, 2009

Who got a visit from the Tooth Fairy?

Gabby girl did...she scored $5 bucks....not bad!










Thursday, November 12, 2009

Girls Night Out


Last Saturday..My two Daughters, the two oldest gran daughters, myself and oldest daughters MIL. went up to Strousburg Pa. To see the Miracle of Christmas at the sight and sound theater. It was a stunning performance complete with Angels, live animals and the beautiful story of the birth of Christ. We could only take photos of the outside and lobby which was decorated with a huge tree and a Christmas garden underneath. Before the show we stopped at Hershey farm for a buffet dinner, and of course I had to take a photo of the Amish guy. We all had a wonderful time and can't wait to do it again.











Monday, November 9, 2009

How's your Day going



Our most gracious Hostess this week is our friend Grace. and she wants to know...

Your Day: please describe to us your typical weekday, from when you wake up until when you go to bed, what do you do to get you up and going, how do you wind down in the evening and what happens in your life in between those times. For some of us, the drama is in the mornings and evenings and for others, it is during the day.

Well now...since I am retired most of my mornings are about the same...I like to rise n shine around 7am....my hubs is always the first one up and he makes the coffee every morning. I get out of bed, go potty, splash my face with cold water to get the sleepy man out, and head downstairs for my first cup of coffee ...this is my favorite time of day. Did I ever tell you what a great coffee brew my hubby makes everyday. I never know what blend it will be, he likes to mix it up.. he uses regular and mixes it with different flavored coffees like hazelnut, vanilla, pumpkin spice, chocolate, cinnamon, caramel swirl, just to name a few. After getting my coffee, I sit n stare at the t.v. watching the Today show and slowly wake up while sipping my delicious brew. Two cups is my limit...by now I am wide awake and ready to take on the day. I get my lap top and check...email...go visit my blog buddies...check face book and tend to my farm (farmville) on face book. I then start laundry and have my breakfast, which is usually cereal. My Hubs makes the bed everyday also (am I lucky or what!!!) I clean up the breakfast dishes and then I will make my daily phone calls...most of the time to my two daughters or my sister or friends. Next, I look at the clock and say OMG its 11am already and I am not even dressed. So I get dressed and get myself to the gym for my daily workout. This is when I run errands also. When I get home, I will have a lite lunch finish up laundry, watch Dr. Phil n Oprah and then its time to start preparing dinner. On days I watch my youngest grand daughter I clear my calender so I am prepared to spend quality time with my sweet little angel. I am pretty flexible so lots of my days vary according to my plans. We eat dinner most every nite at 6pm...clean up dishes and now that its dark at that time...I watch the evening news, read my mail.. play on the computer, get my shower around 8pm and settle in to watch my favorite shows for that night. I head on up to bed anytime between 9pm n 10pm. Most nights its lights out and time to get some zzzzz's by 10 pm. Now go see how the rest of the crew spends their day. Thanks for hosting Grace!

Saturday, November 7, 2009

The Last Bloom

I just happened to notice this one lone bloom on my clematis vine. Very unusual for November.


Thursday, November 5, 2009

Vermont...The final Chapter

On Day three of our trip we visited "Hildene" the summer home of Robert Todd Lincoln..

His father was born in a log cabin and called from the humblest rank in life to preside over our nation during the most momentous period of its history. One generation later, Robert Todd Lincoln, the only child of Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln to survive to adulthood, became chairman of the Pullman Company, the largest manufacturing corporation at the turn of the 20th century. He built his Georgian Revival mansion in 1905 in the scenic village of Manchester in The Shires of Vermont. It became home to only Lincoln descendants until 1975, longer than any other Lincoln residence. It is an example of the “Great American Story” and the story of the Lincoln family’s love affair with Vermont. An historic home, gardens, trails, woods and farm set on 412 preserved acres of quintessential Vermont landscape.

The view from the garden



Our next stop was the.............


BENNINGTON BATTLE MONUMENT
The tallest structure in Vermont commemorates the Battle of Bennington, a battle that lead to the turning point in the Revolutionary War.

Soaring more than 300 feet above the lovely streets of Old Bennington, a striking stone monument marks the site of a critical military supply depot.

"There are the Redcoats;they will be ours or tonightMolly Stark sleeps a widow."

General John Stark

In the late summer of 1777, the Continental Army beat a hasty retreat toward Bennington. British and Hessians pursued, but were badly in need of supplies.
The Americans, carrying what is believed to be the first American flag into battle, defeated them before they could reach the supply depot at Bennington.
The British were forced to proceed to Saratoga without the supplies, where they met a stunning defeat that turned the tide of the Revolutionary War



Moose Art

All you Teachers out there....here is a little trivia for you....notice that the Vermont flag is flying at the same level as our American flag. Normally this would be unlawful...the American flag should always fly higher than your state flag......well..here is the part that blew me away....Vermont can fly their flag the same height because they were at one time their own country. Yep, that's right...they were a country for 14 years...who knew! That was a fact well hidden from the history books. I guess because they petitioned the continental congress to be the 14Th state and were rejected. They said the Heck with you...we will become our own country...and they did. How do you like that little bit of trivia!
Our last stop for the day was ...The Apple Barn
More Moose Art


The owner jumped on our bus and took us up to the apple orchards for the most spectacular views


After returning to the barn for homemade apple pie, we headed back to the Inn for our last dinner and entertainment for the evening. A magic show left us all scratching our heads saying...How did he do that!


Early the next morning after breakfast, it was time to board the bus for our long ride back home. The entire staff came out to say good bye. Everyday they would come out to wave to us as we left for the day and were always there to wave to us when we returned...it was such a nice feeling. As they were standing there waving goodbye for the last time, I actually got choked up...they were so nice and accommodating during our stay..it made you feel like family.
Maybe one day we will return...















































































Tuesday, November 3, 2009

A Halloween Party

Our Blogging Buddy "The Church Lady" Hosted a Halloween party on Saturday and here are the results...A good time was had by all!

Click to play this Smilebox slideshow: Haunted Hall
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Monday, November 2, 2009

Wishing n Sharing

FUN MONDAY

Our friend Mariposa volunteered this week and here is her challenge.........

(1) Share something which you wish your readers would know about you. It could be something you feel you might need to clarify/ share, etc.
(2) Ask three questions to your readers, and I mean all readers, whether participants of Fun Monday or not. The questions should be generic so that all your readers can answer them and that it will help you get to know your readers more



The one thing I would like to share with my readers is....to let them know how much I appreciate them coming to visit my blog. I feel like you are all my friends even though I have not met you face to face. SO HERE IS A BIG THANK YOU AND HUGS FROM ME TO YOU!

The three questions I ask of you is...........
1. what color are your eyes?
2. what do you love to do with your spare time (besides blogging)?
3. what is your all time favorite song?
Can't wait to see your answers!
Now scoot on over to see what other questions are being asked...Thanks for hosting Mariposa!