Winter in LP

Visiting LP over the last 20 years I have decided, during last weeks stay, winter it the best time to visit. The scenery is just beautiful.

I enjoyed spending time with our family and talking with our nieces and nephews, most of whom are now young adults. It was nice to see the persons they have become.

Hope everyone had safe trips home and all will look back on our

Christmas Reunion with fond memories.

Holiday Treasure

The back of the plate is signed, Dorothy Lothridge, Dec. 1956. Dorothy would be my Dad's Mother. My two grandmother's took painting classes together, Mom has the plate that Grandma Russell, her Mother made.

The plate was made the Christmas before I was born. Maybe someday one of my children will treasure the plate as much as me.

Oplatki

On Christmas Eve, according to Polish custom, we will be sharing Oplatki. (Christmas Wafer)(Oh-pwah-tek) The sacred white wafers are shared with each person present, the only things we can truly give the ones we love are joyful memories. During the exchange, good wishes are expressed. Typically, this would be the most emotional time of the holiday for a family. Traditions and customs such as these are passed down from generation to generation and in honor and memory of Anna K, we will pass down this family tradition.

STOP

Not now, RIGHT now. We have enough. Unfortunately, it is still coming down. No more dreaming of a White Christmas.

Snow Storm

All of my friends are telling me to stop wishing for snow for our family reunion. Everyone is blaming me for all our snow this month. We will have a white Christmas this year! I will stop hoping for snow NOW.

Christmas Kitchen Angel

Spent the morning in the kitchen with my Christmas angel. She watched over me when I made Broccoli Cheese soup for tonight, sorry Jernsey, and Goulash for tomorrow.
Mike & Bonnie are coming over tomorrow to watch the Dallas game. He is a huge Dallas fan, just like Joe. I invited Joe to come but he will be attending Mickey's concert.
Everyone have a great weekend and enjoy all your holiday preparations.

Happy Birthday!

In her honor, her favorite orange door, all decorated for Christmas.
Happy Birthday Britt Clarie! May you have a nice day and a great year. We love you.

Living Room Project

This is our living room with the wall to wall carpet out and wallpaper off the walls. Walls are in pretty good shape considering the house was built in late 1800's.

The fireplace is going to be refaced, we don't want the vents. We'll install a gas fireplace insert. The arch over the built inn is going to be removed and the doors are going to be done over. Now I just need to figure out the style of the doors, find some brick that I like, wall paint, built inn paint, furniture, rug, etc, etc, etc.

Reunion Ready

In my next life I may be an event planner and my next life may come sooner than I hope. My family will probably kill me once they see all the reunion things I have planned.

Above is a sneek peek of some of the prizes for the week.

Just a little bit closer peek. Anyone ever play Christmas BINGO?!

C is for Cookies

Mom's cookie party was very nice. There were lots of great looking cookies to choose from. Donna did choose my handmade ornament. She had a very high number. In fact, she was third from the last to pick. Must be the guests don't appreciate homemade ornaments. I spent all day Friday shopping, mostly for craft items for the reunion and holiday decorating. Tomorrow I will start posting pictures of some of my projects.

Win few Lose lots

The view out of E Grace's apartment, it's a beautiful site, the "golden" dome. The caption says it all, this season anyway. We were thinking and hoping the basketball season was going to make up for our football season. We had a lot of fun at the game Saturday night and great seats. Only downside was we missed the LA & NY girls and the score at the end of the game.

33 Years Ago

We had our first date. ES-M vs. Cicero in Boy's Basketball. Don't remember who won the game. Our second date was ES-M vs. Bishop Grimes. Don't know who won that one either. All I know is I did the right thing saying yes to the dates.

For my young women readers, the most important decision you make in life is your choice in a husband. It will shape the life you will have and I have a GREAT life.

LA Girl on the MOVE

She found out yesterday that her application was one of the ones choosen for the spring break trip sponsored by the school. There will be 22 students and three professors leaving on March 22 and returning on April 4. They will be going to Paris, London, Florence, Rome & the Vatican. Not sure what the Vatican has to do with the fashion industry?? They will be going to fashion houses and businesses relating to fashion, a packed schedule EVERYDAY.
I will be traveling two hours South tomorrow. What the traveler I am. : )

Winter

We are going to have a North Country Winter this year. We have about 12 inches of snow, with a few more in the forecast. This morning was one of the worst drives I have ever had going to work. I saw four cars off the road.

I got my ornament finished for the exchange. I hope, like last year, Donna is lucky enough to get a low number so she can choose my ornament. That is of course if she likes it. We have 150 unfinished wooden blocks ready for the reunion. So many blocks to decorate so little time.

Went to Greg's game tonight & his team won. We got to see him make a basket and he had an awesome block. Yeah Greg! Also stopped in to see Brittany at her second job. She now knows how to make a Cosmopolitan.

Cookies

Attending a cookie party on Saturday at Mom's house. Her ninth annual, I believe. Got my cookies made & ready to freeze and they are delicious.
Cranberry Poppy Seed.

I also have to make one ornament to exchange at the party. Will get it finished tonight. Mick cut 150 blocks for me yesterday. It is one like we will be making at the Lawler Christmas Reunion. Will have pictures of the finished ornament tomorrow, hopefully. Today was a first in the life for Brittany, it was her first snow day as a teacher. Hope she used it to get ahead on her lesson plans. Right Brit? It was also the first time Mick used his snow blower this winter. It only was used about five times last year. For some reason I don't think he is going to be as lucky this winter.

Ants came marching .... ... ..... .... .

We had ants last Spring. For the life of me I couldn't figure out why, until yesterday. When I was trying to figure out where the ants were coming from I assumed the kitchen, but I had just put all our food in our brand new kitchen & knew nothing was there that they could get at. The ants were in the cupboard in our living room, our bedroom and my scrapbook/guest room. Yes, I do keep the food of scrapbookers, Junior Mints, on hand at all times in the scrapbook/guest room but they didn't touch them. Guess they knew better!

Yesterday, Mick was emptying out the living room for our next room makeover and he found candy canes that I bought last January to use for decorations for this Christmas in one of the crocks. Notice how one of the candy canes is open at the end? Well, it is hallowed out about four inches deep.

Buying candy canes in January to save money was not such a savings after all since I spent about $20.00 on products to get rid of the ants. Now I can only hope that Mick has forgotten all about reading this Blog of mine & will never know about the money I saved buying candy canes in January.