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Friday, 04 December 2009
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Family fun continues
Our time in Denver with our granddaughters and their family was fun. We were privileged to also get to be with the extended family of our son in law. They came from California, Texas and Denver. Some of them we have not seen since our daughter got married. The one sister from Oklahoma and her family didn't get to come. So for Thanksgiving we had 19 0f us sitting at three tables all in the same large room, all with tableclothes and china decorated with candles and the special turkey made from a pineapple.
Everyone brought part of the dinner and it was served buffet style from the kitchen. It was a feast with still enough to snack on later for dinner. The girls donated their flowers from the play to be the food counter centerpiece. I didn't get any pictures ...just memories.
These pictures was taken while we were cleaning up. Hubby (father in law)
on the left, older brother, son inlaw(youngest brother), father, middle brother.
I am on right next to son inlaws mother, oldest sister in law behind her,
Donna in center holding hands on little sister and next to big sister,
behind to left of big sister is middle brothers wife.The rest are cousins/nieces.
there were two of the young married guys missing from pictures. oops.
The girls and I made some cowboy ornaments. First they drew a simple pattern
that we taped on to can lids.Then we used hammer and nails in garage to make outline.
A christmas stocking ...with a ribbon ,it can be hung in a window or on the tree.
The lights will shine through.
We opened one gift each before we left. Big sister got a standing frame
to hold her canvas as she paints. She was very excited.
Little sister opened some pj's ...just what she wanted and in time to
wear them to school on a spirit day !! It is good to get just the right things.
soon it was time to pack up and head home.
hugs and kisses all around and time for christmas decorating to begin.
We drove home to Illinois in ggod time. We got 53 miles per gallon in the Prius. Yeah...
We went to our festival of trees on saturday afternoon. All monies go to a local hospital.
This display was so interesting.
The cabin was all made of natural stuff. Including the moss laden miner/hunter
sitting on the bench. Very interesting amidst the high gloss of most other displays.
The very large centerpiece tree with many old historical Santas and
gifts from many different countrys.
This tree was decorated by two of our chorus members for our chorus entry.
It was bought at the action at the gala event before the festival began
by people who will have it on stage at the Christmas symphony. Wahoo.
And then there is the Gingerbread village. This lady is from church and
helps all the youngsters make an entry. She won third place for Judges choice.
It was sold for $90.
Sadie is one of our teens and has a tree farm entry.
Notice the pig out by the fence....Someone paid $100.00 for this creation.
So many very creative entry. We had a lot of our kids entered ...even a 2 year old.
Now I am busying myself with christmas decorations at home too.
The bathrooms are ready and the dinning room is mostly done.
I have my christmas concert on Sunday afternoon.
We have had dress rehearsal this week besides a performance last night.
We have several during the christmas time. We will just FaLaLa along....
Have fun this weekend and I will see you again on monday.
Wednesday, 02 December 2009
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I'm baaaack......
Life gets caught in a whirlwind sometimes. And I am still healthy enough to want to keep up with what ever the current activity. YEAH....that is a blessing at this time of the year. Some of the time is spent rejoicing with some , celebrating with others, and listening with some and crying with others. I am Glad that God has blessed me with the tender heart that I have. And I have shared some of these same emotions on other occasions myself.
So today I will try to share some pictures of what I have been doing that was fun lately.
We had a beautiful fall here. These trees are on circle drive near my house
on the University campus. I just love them.
But soon the all the leaves had fallen in the backyard....
with just a single bloom unwilling to give up to winter.
leaves everywhere.....
We went to a beautiful home for a surprise party ...
This beautiful chandelier was in the entry way.
She was surprised !! about 50 of us waited in the dark for her. Her granddaughter
said "Nana, I have waited all day to see you!!!!!" So sweet.
Even though she had an infected tooth and swollen jaw...
we all enjoyed the special cake and lots of good food.
Soon we were all packed up and on our way to Colorado. Hubby was
excited to see a Village Inn in Nebraska. We had not eaten in one since
leaving Alaska.We had a lovely lunch.
We got to see our granddaughters on stage production of the Unsinkable Molly Brown.
This is our oldest granddaughter who played a bar room dancer in one scene
where she had her own dance and sang. She was really all personality.
In another scene she was "royalty" and quite glamorous.
Little sister was a maid and stayed in character even off stage. She was
being silly here with grandpa.
Curtain call with little sister front and center.
They were very pleased with their flowers and candy bars.

Then it was time to celebrate birthdays.
For our oldest at thirteen ...a colorful sweater and beret. Cool!!
Little sister got a new wallet with all kinds of neat places to put 'things'...
which is just like the one I now carry in my purse.

She looked so cute in this dress. woohoo..
I brought big sister had a beautiful Saree from India and she will have a
neighbor help to put it on correctly .
Not to leave out my "big sister" ...I caught Donna busy and happy in the kitchen!!
I do believe she was cleaning up after my candy/cookie making in preparation
for Thanksgiving and lots of family coming. Thanks!!

I hope your week was as great as ours was being with family.
It is not the 'stuff' but simply sharing lots of laughter and love!!
Tuesday, 17 November 2009
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It seems weeks at a time just fly by me. And then I have to play catch up besides. We had a very busy and happy time this weekend past. The special birthday turned out well. the guest of honor was very surprised. Her little granddaughter ran to her as she came in the front door. She said " NANA...I have waited all day to see you!!!!!....and we are having a party" That was so cute for a two year old. The home was huge and we easily had 50-60 people there. There was tons of food. So they kindly brought the remains to church on sunday for the potluck. We had a visiting Christian College coralaires with us also. They sang in the afternoon. We also had guest from surrounding area. We had greeted the students on saturday night with a pizza party. Afterwards many played games at the host family's home. On Sunday morning as people arrived bringing an abundance of food we were meet by the strong odor of burned...badly...barbecue. Yikes ...it was enough to make you sick. We found the culprit...The pulled pork in a large roasting pan burned. It had been left on high from very early morning or saturday night. We unplugged, took the whole roaster outside and set it in the rain on the steps by kitchen!! then let a fan blow out the slightly opened door to rid the place of the odor. We had a wonderful time with the young folk and they left mid-afternoon. We finished cleaning all the tables and kitchen that night .
I have been packing for our trip out to Colorado. We leave on thursday. I have bags of food to take for some family recipes and goodies for christmas. We are also doing some birthday party time too. Did I mention Christmas is coming just around the corner. We may press it all in if possible. But the main thing will be being together. Little sister will have her 10th birthday on Thanksgiving day. And the first weekend we will get to see both granddaughters on stage. That is going to be very exciting for us. I have a couple of pictures and may be able to get those on later.tonight I have more laundry to do so I can pack clothes too. I did get the fall decor put away so I will be on track to do start Christmas as soon as I arrive home.
If I don't get a chance to get back here on xanga....know that I wish you all a happy time with your loved ones. We have so much in our lives to be thankful for at any time of the year. Practice sharing your gratitude.
Friday, 13 November 2009
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My coworker is on vacation in Florida.so I am filling in part of the time she is off. I normally come to work at noon but have come in at 10 o'clock this week. I stayed pretty busy the first two days of the week as another girl was out sick. I didn't even take a lunch but ate a bite at my desk.
Today I had a special treat for lunch. My employers have a monthly luncheon for the people that have a birthday that month. It is not a 'help yourself lunch' but a sit down dinner with food served to you on china. We talked about our families, our pets, what we did on our birthday, what we will do for thanksgiving. They served a cake with all of us singing Happy Birthday to me and then saying our name on the last verse. The lady whose birthday was today got to blow out the candles. It did give us a feeling of family and learning more about each other.
Tomorrow night I will go to another surprise birthday party. It is a 31st Anniversary of her 29th birthday..LOL
I am thrilled that people keep giving us opportunity to be thankful (and have parties) for the many years we have lived. Some days are not as easy as others but they all count. Aging allows you to remember only the good times.Woo Hoo!!
Monday, 09 November 2009
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My eyes have not been up to much lately. I went on last monday to my opthamologist to get a shot in my eye to clear the fluid under the retinae. He could not because my eye was so red ..he was concerned about infection. I rested ..literally... all week and went again thursday night where he was finally able to give me the shot. I insisted he check my eyes before they put numbing drops in to do other test..eye pressure and vision ... I seem to have a reaction to the numbing drops. They burn and itch and eyes become excessively red. He said we would do the shot so I endured the tingling and general irritation for 1 1/2 hours till he had a room to see me. The shot went pretty easy. I think that the antibiotics he gives me after a shot cleared all the redness and my eye is is better now. Yeah!
Friday night hubby and I helped surprise a good friend for his fortieth birthday. It was a fun party.
Saturday I spent the morning at a card making session . We made five different christmas cards. I made two of each. Some were fast and easy and some long and tedious. But the end results were all pretty neat. Then ran home to put antibiotics in my eye and off to next adventure. As I was leaving my street I noticed a group of young male adults walking on the sidewalk across the street. They were not causing any disturbance but I knew they were out of place. These young men were all special needs people that are not usually in my neighbor hood.They seemed to be making a group decision at each corner which way to go next. I turned the car around and went home to call someone to give them assistance. I first tried to call HOPE school that is about 2-3 miles from my house. I thought they had gone out on a 'walk about' because it was such a beautiful day and wouldn't be able to find their way back. I couldn't find the number so decided to call 911....The operator took all the information I could give her. I waited a while. I called the lady that I was on the way to her house and explained. She said come when you can. I waited again. I called hubby and he said he would come home if they had any questions and I could go. So I did. On the way out of subdivision I followed the direction the boys were going last I had seen them. And there they sat in the front yard around the block smiling and waved to me as I past the house. Apparently they have this group home and I was unaware of it. I guess the lesson still remains to be safe and then not sorry.
The afternoon was fun. A group of six ladies from church came together and worked on a scrap book for one of the ladies daughter who is getting married. They will have a photo booth at the reception. We made the pages all decorated and ready to drop in pictures As the people get the photo strip back , they will put it in the book on any page they want, sign their names, and journal any special words to the couple. It turned out great. We had fun but were ready to pull in the sidewalks by 6:30. Hubby took me to Steak and Shake and then chilled out the rest of the evening.
Sunday I got up early and sewed some small pillows for my bible class. I made red satin on one side and white fluffy on the other side. Then filled them with rice and sealed the end with stitches. They can be put in microwave to add warmth on in freezer for a cold pack. My class was studying about the Israelites following Moses in the wilderness with God giving them a cloud to follow in the day and a pillar of fire at night. The kids thought it was good that God gave them a fire to stay warm at night and a cloud to cover some of the sunshine in the day so they wouldn't be too hot. I think I agree. Last night we had a house guest so we visited last night after eating with friends at Bob Evans. He and hubby went today to a meeting about 8:30. I slept in . Yeah me!!
What took up your weekend hours.
Monday, 02 November 2009
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Where I have been lately...
...in case you noticed my absence...
I guess by this time you have noticed a change in the foliage about our normal pathways. This is one of my favorite roads to drive by in the fall. All of the trees here by the University by my house are a brilliant red. It was getting sunset here so they seem a little dark. By lovely just the same.
Our daughter and family made it safely back from Brazil...
so we celebrated her birthday a bit late. I made here a turkey head that
we attach to a pineapple for our thanksgiving centerpiece.
Of course I made the body out of our old family joke"Potholders"
that are passed around lovingly quite often...sometimes for no reason at all. LOL
On monday night I made three large containers of soup for our Ladies
Bible Study. This was the homemade chicken and noodles.
Also I made Italian wedding soup with meatball and acini de pepi..
and ham and 15 bean soup
One of our ladies makes a ribbon sandwich using hawaiian bread sliced
across the middle and filled with ham salad and egg salad..
She then covers this giant sandwich with philly cream cheese tinted
orange. with additional trimming like a Red headed pumpkin..
We all enjoyed a slice of this sandwich. She made two so she insisted I take
the second one to work for our potluck. Again it was fun and delicious.
more food...ending with apple strudel delight.. yummy!!
Before I could catch up (and clean up)..it was halloween. I wore my
kuspuc ,eskimo dress, to work with all my hand beaded hair piece,
earing, and eskimo doll pin.. The next day I wore my halloween sweater.
My hubby's boyhood friend from Wisconsin and his wife came to visit
for the weekend on the way home from visiting their grandkids.
.So we took them out to see the Lincoln sights..
I meet a friend that I thought had good taste in clothing.
She was nice enough to give me a spider ring to wear.
Here they see young Lincoln outside his log cabin . inside the
Presidential Museum.
Then over to see the first family at the white house. . They were kind
enough to pose with them.
On the front porch of the white house were some folks we have read about ....
Mary Todd was welcoming everyone to to her home ...but I couldn't
take my camera in any farther.
We took a break for late lunch then went by Lincoln's tomb.
You may notice the shiny nose...rubbed for good luck.
inside there are many statues of him at different stages of his life.
This is the one my chorus stands by just off to the side from his tomb
area when we sing on his birthday.. Can't reach his nose so we keep his toes shiny.
We then walked over to the Old Capitol.This is the back entrance but you
may recognize it from the new pennys. It is also the location that our
president opened his campaign and also came here to introduce
his vice president running mate. This is where President Lincoln served till he went to washing ton.
This is where he came back to Springfield.
They have updated the railroad station and park area. very nice.
Then on Sunday after worship with a very loving church family, we were
taken to lunch at Smokey Bones by our guest to celebrate my birthday.
I opened this gift from daughter , Donna. It is perfect!!
Daughter Vicki,sent a blouse and called and kiddoes sang to me
We also sang to granddaughter Cynthia who shares this date of birth.
A friend at church gave me a pig made of tiny shells from Florida.
There were several cards.
Later at home . hubby gave me a bracelet that says I AM LOVED...
Inside the O there is a diamond.. What a sweet birthday. I told my little
children in class it was my birthday and they wanted to know how
old I was . I told them three. They said no way!! I asked how old
they thought I would be..They said twenty. I like that. Another boy
said yeah ...my mom is 38 and she is real old!!. I love these little kids!!
Wednesday, 21 October 2009
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Our daughter, her husband and the 3 grandkids arrived here in the state from their trip to Brazil. It was a happy trip and almost everything went well. They did have a little money problem. They had contacted their bank and gave them an itinerary of where they would be in Brazil so they would NOT block their debit card. Something didn't work and it WAS blocked. It is a good thing we were able to give them some cash donations when they stopped last week on the way to airport. They let the bank know when they landed in Chicago that the whole family was hungary and they needed to buy gas to drive home to Oklahoma. They arrived at our house pretty tired...and so was I. We still had a birthday dinner for daughter and some gifts. She was able to get all her laundry done before she left so they would have clean clothes for work and school.
I do have some photos but.....well I didn't get them uploaded.
Today I went to one eye Dr. and tomorrow another one. I will have an angiogram of my eye and then decide if I get another shot in my eye. Looks like more radiation debrie again. Hopefully I will be ok to work...even if I have the lights low.
Friday night my bass section of my chorus will meet together to work on our music. Then saturday night we are to go on a hay ride. woohoo.
I rested last night quite a bit so I can keep on the go.LOL Just don't want to miss any fun stuff ..you know!!
Thursday, 15 October 2009
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY *
to my younger sister ... Mary!
She is a wife, a mother to two young men, Aunt to 12, and a great Aunt to 13 in our family 'BUSH'.
She is Smart, energetic, never meet a stranger, pensive, a serious Artist, teaches at a university, tried several different professions, says she will try scuba diving next. She is loved by all she meets. And she named me theprettysister!
She is not on xanga much anymore with her very busy schedule. So lets all go by and fill up her comment section with birthday wishes. I think she will notice that.
* xanga photo server not available
edit....I went to bible study last night at our church building. Our youngest kiddoes want to help with our Great Give Away. So we saved a special job they could do. We lined all the paper sacks up in the hallway by their class rooms. Then each one had a bucket of 'stuff' (personal items),soaps, etc) and went down the hall and put 'stuff' in all the bags. They were pretty full this year. Just as we were almost finished the camera man from our local TV station arrived. He took film of the kids and then interviewed my hubby. We saw the clip on the 10 o' clock news. that should bring out the crowds. I hope we don't become 'cops' because it is all free
Tuesday, 13 October 2009
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I know it has been a week .....and I am still on the same path. we had a big garage sale for my chorus on saturday. It had been raining all week but sunny on saturday even if it was still cool. We sold a lot , had fun together, then packed up all that was left in a truck, a van, and two cars to take to our church building for this saturdays event.
This saturday will not be a 'garage sale' or any kind of sale at all. We set everything donated up like a gianormous sale but it is ALL givenaway. Thus the name GREAT GIVEAWAY. We advertise in places where people that live on limited budgets can come and get things for their homes and clothing too. Anyone is welcome to come regardless of income . Then we give away a special treat bag at the end to all that registered. It contains personal items like toothpaste,toothbrushes, soap, shampoo, laundry soap, hand creme, sanitary products, etc. People that have a card that allows them to buy what ever they can eat on government money but nothing to clean their bodies or clothing. The reaction is so positive that you would think it was christmas instead.
It is a blessing to give and a blessing for them to receive also. Many have learned of this Great Give Away and return every year....and bring friends. It takes a lot of time to get this altogether, and we are exhausted at the end of the week...but it is worth it.
So if you think I am sleeping somewhere...think again. LOL
This saturday is going to be a banner day. Hubby and I will be here in mid America work to give everything away. Our oldest granddaughter will celebrate her birthday as a teenager in Colorado. Wow.... how time flies. Our son is in the Philippines now and will marry his bride there with her family and friends.. I do think they will return to Alaska but...I do not know when. Then our daughter and her family from Oklahoma are now in Brazil for the week. They plan to move there next year. She will celebrate her birthday there on saturday with her family and friends. . I could add my sister will also celebrate her birthday on thursday in North Dakota. Of course she will be very old...teehee (I wonder if she is reading )
What will you be doing on Saturday?
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theprettysister
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- Name: Marie
- Country: United States
- State: Illinois
- Metro: Springfield
- Birthday: 11/1/1946
- Gender: Female
- Member Since: 4/25/2005
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About Me
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I am a happy person and laugh easily.I like to encourage people to stretch and grow to be their own personal best.God is #1 in my life.
Pulse
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Thank you Lord for loving me...
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Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4
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When a man is gloomy, everything seems to go wrong; when he is cheerful, everything seems right! proverbs 15:15





































































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