* NINE DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS?! *

Yes, Virginia there IS a Santa Claus....and yes, Becky is still alive and kicking! 😉

My 5 talks at the assisted living centers became only 3; I missed one because of illness, and the other was cancelled due to a large snowstorm we had.

I was a bit rusty in talking, but it seemed to go well. People laughed and smiled at the proper times.

I brought door prizes, print-outs of helpful online sites for writers, and lots of books to sell.

I sold Five Books 😞

Oh well... it was a great experience and I met some wonderful people. That's a gift in itself. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Have I mentioned that Ron and I are moving again?? In August, we bought a used double-wide mobile home in a lake community and hope to actually move in next month! It was a mess and we're totally rehabbing it and it will be like a brand new home. If I'd never seen some of those make-over shows on HGTV, I would've never agreed to buy it. It was that bad! I'll share some before and after photos after we've moved in!

I'm not sending snail mail Christmas cards this year...first time in over half my life, but I just couldn't find the time or energy to do them. So, please don't think I've forgotten you, I wish all of you a

Very Merry Christmas!

May 2019 be a year of good health
 & happiness for us all!

* BAKING, SHOPPING? NO, TRYING TO GET WELL FIRST! *

I wish I could say that since my previous post on December 7th, I've gotten all ready for Christmas....

I was doing really well, too. Not rushing around like a nut, not getting all stressed. I'd started working on my Christmas cards back around Thanksgiving and I knew I'd have them mailed EARLY this year! I still had plenty of time to bake cookies to take to work, and give to friends, and have some for us at home, too.

Then on Sunday, the 11th, I noticed I was getting a sore throat. Uh Oh! That's almost always the beginning of a sinus infection, but at least I get meds and it goes away fairly fast. But NO, not this year! Every day I felt a bit worse...and to shorten this as much as possible...I finally saw my doctor this morning and I have pneumonia!

When I was in my 20's and 30's, I would get either bronchitis or pneumonia almost every single year! But then I hadn't had more than a cold or sinus infection since then...until now. I recognized the symptoms and was 99% sure I had it, but I also did want the doctor to see me and make the correct diagnosis.

So, I got another round of new meds and by this evening was so much better! It's a wonderful feeling to have a bit more energy and actually feel like being part of the family again! Ron has been great, though, taking care of everything.

Now, I just need to rest up and get ALL BETTER, so I can experience a bit of last minute of shopping and baking, etc!

- Until then, I leave you with photos from Christmases past - 

Becky's cookies 2011

Becky's cookies 2011

Becky's cookies 2011

Mmm..Mmm, Can you almost sniff the aroma of fresh baked cookies??

I can't wait to start making them!

found on Pinterest

WHOA - FIVE DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS! YIKES!

* MERRY CHRISTMAS 2016 *

 

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

 

 

(December 2008)

 

from Ron and me

 

 

 

and...

 

(December 2016)

 

Charlie (waiting for Santa to fill his stocking!

 

* NOSTALGIC SUNDAY *

It's Time For Another Nostalgic Sunday

 

 

I watched one of my favorite Christmas movies

a day or two ago. No...it wasn't A Christmas Carol, although I do love this musical version the best: Scrooge, with Albert Finney. (1971)

 

 

Love, love, love it!

 

 

 

 

And, no it wasn't It's a Wonderful Life, or Christmas Story, or Christmas Vacation, or White Christmas, or The Bishop's Wife, Home Alone, The Polar Express, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Miracle on 34th Street (the original 1947), The Family Stone, Christmas in Connecticut, or Meet Me in St. Louis. Whew....I think that's most of my favorites, but I'll also throw in, Trading Places and While You Were Sleeping, because they take place during Christmas time and I want to include them!

 

 

 

No, the one I watched was Scrooged, with Bill Murray! (1988)

I can't say how many times I've seen this movie;

let's just say countless!

There are so many scenes that crack me up

and I laugh out loud every single time...one in particular: at the restaurant when Frank (Bill Murray) thinks he sees a real eyeball in his drink and starts screaming and pointing at it. The way the camera goes from the drink to his face, and to the others' faces...Classic!

 

Love, love, love it!

 

 

What are some of YOUR favorite Christmas movies?

Or old TV shows' Christmas episodes?

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

Put a Little Love in Your Heart

(from Scrooged soundtrack)

 

"Think of your fellow man, lend him a helping hand
Put a little love in your heart
You see, it's getting late, oh, please don't hesitate
Put a little love in your heart"

 

 

* OH...THOSE CHRISTMAS CONFESSIONS! *

Blogger and writer friend, Patricia Preston, invited me to take part in her Christmas Confessions blog posts, and I happily accepted.

Please stop by PATRICIA'S BEAUTIFUL BLOG and see what I had to say...and also learn more about her and her publications. She's way ahead of me in the number of books she's written! J

* NOSTALGIC SUNDAY *

 

It's Time for Another Nostalgic Sunday

 

 

 

 

 

I know, I know it's not even Thanksgiving yet, and believe me I am NOT one to rush Christmas and decorations, etc. But, I'm cleaning out the closet in the bedroom where my desk and laptop is. Attempting to cram as much "things to keep" stuff in it, and get rid of the stuff "I really can let go of."

 

 

See, all this has to do with desperately needing to get organized, so I can WRITE and not have clutter stressing me out. That's my biggest "chore" right now. I hate clutter!

 

 

 

So, anyway, I came across this photo taken at an office party in 1984! I was a couple of weeks away from my 32nd birthday in January of '85. OMG, I was so young, slender and cute!....If I do say so myself! Yes, that is a glass of beer in my hand, too! (Ron must've taken this photo because he was at the party with me, of course!)

In my mind, I still feel like that same young woman. I feel as if I look just like that, too. The human brain is so interesting. We all know we will age, and yet when we're young, it seems as if we never will! And then all of a sudden, poof... 20, 30, 40 years go by and we're staring into the mirror at an old, wrinkly person.

I think mirrors should not

be allowed in our Baby Boomer homes!

We could fix our hair and put on make-up,

looking into our rearview car mirror!

* CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL - CALL OUTS FOR NEW STORIES *

I just received an e-mail from the lovely editors at Chicken Soup for the Soul, asking for stories for a new, upcoming anthology named, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Curvy & Confident - 101 Stories about Loving Yourself and Your Body. 

This sounds like a book that's perfect for us women of a "certain age" and I'm definitely going to begin working on a submission for it. The deadline is June 30, 2016.

After reading the email, I was motivated to check out the Chicken Soup for the Soul website and see if they had other call outs going on...and they sure do! Following are the current ones, with various deadlines. Be sure to check them out!

Angels & Miracles   
Best Mom Ever!       
Blended Families
Dreams and Synchronicities
Parent to Parent
Stories about Cats
Stories about Dogs
Stories about Teachers & Teaching
The Joy of Christmas
        AND
The Spirit of Canada (for Canadian entries only)
College Student Stories (for current students up to age 24)


Here's the link to the Call Out page: http://www.chickensoup.com/story-submissions/possible-book-topics. They even give suggestions about what to write about.

As always, I encourage everyone to submit stories, even if you've never done any writing at all. Just take your time and write from your heart. If your story doesn't get chosen, you haven't lost any money, because there is no submission fee...but if your story IS chosen... "If your story is chosen, you will be a published author and your bio will be printed in the book if you so choose. You will also receive a check for $200 and 10 free copies of your book, worth more than $100. You will retain the copyright for your story and you will retain the right to resell it or self-publish it." Pretty neat, huh?!

GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE AND PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHERE YOU SUBMITTED YOUR STORIES!



"The role of the writer is not to say what we can all say but what we are unable to say." - Anaïs Nin (1903-1977) 

* NOSTALGIC SUNDAY *

It's Time for Another Nostalgic Sunday

 

~~~

 

This will be a short and sweet Nostalgic Sunday, since it's very close to being Monday!

 

 

 

This picture is one of my favorites, partly because it's probably the only one I have of just my brother Mike, and me, and our dad. But also because we were so happy then. It was Christmas Day approximately 1960. Looks like we were getting ready to go to Mass, or just got home. I vividly remember my outfit, I guess because I loved it so much! It was a gray jumper with a pink blouse. To this day, I still love pink and gray together. Mike is holding his new Chess For Beginners game, and I'm holding my much loved Colorforms! And what is our dad doing? Reading the newspaper, not paying a bit of attention. SO TYPICAL! And he's wearing what I affectionately refer to as his "Barney Fife suit!"....I wonder what's the deal with he and Mike wearing white socks with their suits??

 

Ahh, such a happy time in my life that ended way too soon......

 

 

Happy 2016 everyone! May this be a year of doors opening and blissful encounters for all!

* IT'S CHRISTMAS EVE 2015 *

Merry Christmas to All!

 

I'm sharing some photos of Christmastime 2011.....Our tree, sweet Vern, and homemade cookies!

 

I really wanted to make homemade Christmas cookies again this year, but it just didn't happen. Maybe if it finally gets cold, and we have snow, I'll make them....for New Year's Day?!

 

 

 

Wishing everyone peace and happiness.

* CHRISTMAS IS ALMOST HERE *

 

 

*HAPPY FRIDAY & PHOTOS ADDED TO PREVIOUS POST *

I just added a picture to my previous post of my friend (and current boss!) in front of Thistle & Clover in beautiful old St. Charles.

And also added a photo of our Christmas tree.

It's less than one week until Christmas!

 

 



One of my all time favorite Christmas albums!!

 

 





* WORKING & LEARNING & DECORATING THE TREE *

WORKING & LEARNING

When I first started looking for a job a few months ago, one thing I said I would NOT do was work in retail. Well, have I mentioned that I'm working in retail?! But it's not in a large department store or discount store. THAT, I swear, I would NOT do!

I'm working seasonal, part-time at Thistle & Clover, the specialty shop I mentioned in a blog post on June 8th. (They carry Scottish, Irish, and Welsh items.) My new friend, Karen and her husband own it, and they are great to work for. The other employees are helpful and fun to work with, too. I'm enjoying learning about some of my Welsh and Scottish heritage which is on my dad's side of the family: the coat of arms, the tartans, the history, etc.

Karen, in front of Thistle & Clover

I love talking with people and helping them find what they're looking for, so it hasn't really seemed much like work.....until I get home and realize how tired I am!

DECORATING THE TREE

 

Over the past week, when I've been home from work, I've been adding a few ornaments to our Christmas tree. It occurred to me that at the rate I was going, it would never be finished before Christmas! So, during the past couple of days I finished trimming the tree! I'm so happy with it!

Our Christmas tree in 2014

Last year we only had a tiny, two foot tall tree, and it didn't seem like Christmas to me. This year we have a six foot tall tree, complete with lights, that we got at Walgreens last year after Christmas for...Ten Dollars! I'll post a couple of photos soon.

 

 

 

 

"The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other." - Burton Hillis

 

 

* MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM VERN & FAMILY *

Merry Christmas Everyone!

(Vern and I chose the following photos for today, and he told me what he wanted to say. So this is his Merry Christmas post to all his blog friends and fans!)

Don't I look dapper in my warm, red coat?!

I'm sleeping peacefully on the daybed next to Mom's desk, while listening to Christmas music, and dreaming of doggie treats and rawhide bones and flips.

I was beside myself with love and excitement when Mark stopped by for a visit!

Mom made me watch some of the Charlie Brown Christmas show with her. 

I did like Snoopy, though.

This was pretty funny. Justin Timberlake dancing and singing as a soup can! 

Mom laughed out loud, a lot.

This was taken when we got all that snow a week or so ago. 

Mom and I were out walking in it. 

If you look at the sky, really close, you can see some snowflakes falling on us. 

This is me in December of 2011. 

I look so cute in this picture, I wanted to show it again.

Same as above!

Sourch - Pinterest

* NOSTALGIC SUNDAY *

It's Time For Another Nostalgic Sunday

I'm sharing some photos I've posted during past Decembers.....

These are from 2011, but I baked the [same looking] cookies for a cookie exchange earlier this month. The difference between then and now is that these were made from a Betty Crocker sugar cookie package. The ones I made this year were made from scratch! Yes! I haven't done that in quite a few years, and I also used a recipe I'd never tried before. Pretty brave, daring, or just plain idiotic when participating in a cookie exchange....with people I didn't even know! (except for ONE woman!) Yikes! BUT, I did have a "back up plan," a package mix in the pantry, just in case! ☺

But, everything worked correctly and this year's batch was just as pretty and tasty as 2011. I keep saying I'm going to make more, so we'll have some to take to others, and still have some to hide share at home. I better start today, dont'cha think??

I also posted this in December of 2011. It's a Christmas card holder that I made. (Yep, another astonishing fact!) But, before you start applauding my "talent," let me say that it's a "no-sew" project, and I used my hot glue gun. When I was a little girl, my mother made a couple of these "boots," but they were more elaborate with rick-rack and were actually sewn together. (I mention these in my memoir.) She let me help with some of it and I loved them so much, I decided to make my own. The back material is green felt, and the pockets are light-weight, cotton fabric pieces. Then, just glittery glue for the names.

This is Vern from last year. I've taken new photos, but just haven't gotten them uploaded yet. When he and I were out early this morning, it began to flurry on us, which made us both Happy! (See that wad of peace signs behind him? That's one of his very own blankies!) 

"It's true, Christmas can feel like a lot of work, especially for mothers. But when you look back on all the Christmases in your life, you'll find you've created family traditions and lasting memories. Those memories, good and bad, are really what help to keep a family together over the long haul." -- Caroline Kennedy

* SO MUCH GOING ON - SO MUCH TO SAY *

Happy Monday, December 2nd, 2013!

I have lots of news but can't work on my blog until this evening. 

Please stop by *tomorrow* if you have the time. 

But, for now ~ How about ~ "Give a book for Christmas" as in..the book being my memoir! ☺

And have it gift-wrapped for free when purchased from my website.

Would you believe this is wrapping paper?? It's heavy duty paper, and looks like a pile of books all stacked on top of each other. I took this photo this afternoon! Just let me know when you order my book whether you'd like it wrapped or not, and if you want it signed, who it's for. 

Bye for now. I'll be back later.......Oops.....How about tomorrow? 

"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...."

* My Beloved Pal, Vern -- Always at My Side *

I posted this photo on Oct 19th but I just had to do it again today. With all the time I'm spending clicking away on my laptop, Vern and I are spending lots of time in this spare bedroom/office and I love it. The daybed is almost directly parallel to the top of my desk (tiny kitchen table, actually!) It's so much easier for us to see each other, and allows Vern to keep a watch out the window, too! This is in the front of our townhouse. He sees all. He knows all. ☺

Since my post last month, I've discovered something very interesting about Mr.Vern. He loves Christmas music! Especially oldies like the songs included in The Time Life Treasury of Christmas. I log into Pandora, make my music selection, and voila', Vern is off to slumber land!  

Source: Amazon

And just why am I listening to Christmas music before Thanksgiving?? It goes all the way back to high school. In October, at the first sign of really cold, wintry weather, one of my girl friend's and I would grab a couple of our Christmas LPs and start listening to them. I've been doing it ever since then, although I normally get aggravated at all the stores for having Christmas decorations out so early. But, this year I'm enjoying it! I'm embracing it! What can I say? Yes, I know. I'm an enigma. That's what The Ronald says all the time! 

Have a beautiful, blissful day!

"No matter how little money and how few possessions you own, having a dog makes you rich." -- Louis Sabin

* Nostalgic Sunday *

It's time for another Nostalgic Sunday!

Last night I thought about Christmases of long ago, and it occurred to me to share a few lines from various chapters in my memoir. 

~~~

The first one involves my sister Jo Ann, my brother Mike and me. I was 10 years old.(my parents were recently divorced at this time)
.......another very cold Sunday, Jo Ann, Mike and I were at Mass. When it was time to go to Communion, we were still completely bundled up in our heavy winter coats. Since we walked the few blocks to church, we never did warm up. As we knelt at the Communion railing, all of a sudden one of the shiny, gold buttons on Mike's coat popped off and went soaring up towards the altar. I guess he had on one too many layers that day and the thread couldn't hold any longer. And of course, being in a situation where we shouldn’t laugh, it made us want to giggle all the more. We couldn’t help but do that silent, shoulder shaking laughing and a bit of snorting, too. Luckily, the button didn’t hit the priest, or anyone else, but it pinged a couple of times as it bounced around the marble floor and steps. I could feel many pairs of eyes scanning the front of church, wondering who the culprits were. The three of us managed to get through the rest of Mass without causing any more commotion, but I don’t think we could've said what the closing hymn was. We were too busy trying to keep solemn faces and weren't doing a very good job of it.

~~~

I remember a few things all the way back to when I was three years old. The following are some of them.

My brother and I never believed in Santa Claus. Why, you may ask? Our mother didn’t want us to! She said when she learned the truth as a little girl she was so devastated she didn’t want her own children to ever suffer the way she did. Huh?! ....

...I watched my older sisters Marian and JoAnn wrap presents.....Some years we had Snow-in-a-Can and Dad sprayed that fake stuff all over the tree. I actually have a few delicate ornaments with that gunk still on them......Those early Christmases were perfect and I still carry them in my heart. Our tiny house didn't overflow with gifts or decorations, but with our family's love. There was a warmth to our home that I felt even as a little girl of three or four years old.

Becky & Mike
get a load of my knock knees!

~~~

The time frame of the following speaks for itself.

......I particularly remember getting an idea in my head the Christmas I was 12 years old. I truly believed he was going to “come to his senses” and come home to us. (I’m pretty sure that idea came from my mother.)  I sat for hours in our living room, facing the front door, listening to Bing Crosby croon “I’ll Be Home for Christmas." I played that record so many times, I almost wore it out.  I just knew any minute he would burst through the door, ask for forgiveness and be loaded down with gifts for all of us, including Mother. It was a scene I played repeatedly in my wistful daydreams. I made sure the porch light was on, so Dad could find our house. But of course, that never happened.  (The title of this chapter is "Thoughts On Love & Forgiveness," and was published in Chicken Soup for the Soul; Divorce & Recovery in 2008.)

Although most of my adolescent Christmases were lonely, because they were spent without my dad, I choose more times than not to remember those early, happy ones.

Wishing everyone the merriest of Christmases!

 "Memory is the library of the mind." -- Francis Fauvel Gouraud

* Silver and Gold....&....Snow Men *

Who remembers that song from the 1960's animated special, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer?  

♫♪  Silver & Gold ... Silver & Gold  ♫♪

Those are the only words I remember from the entire song, but I certainly remember the tune, and the voice of Burl Ives singing it!

 (I thought I'd do another Christmasy post tonite! You can always click on the photos to make them larger.)

This is a large glass bowl on our mantel. I filled it with plastic silver and gold ornaments and tied a silver ribbon around it. Not too shabby, huh?!

This is that $15.00 tree I mentioned in a previous post. It's about 6' tall, and has multi-colored lights. I added a string of white lights and it was just right (light-wise!)

Every ornament on the tree is plastic and bought from either Hobby Lobby or Dollar Tree. Wow, I'm a big spender, aren't I?!

BUT, it does look like I missed a spot or two, or three! I sure didn't notice it until I looked at this picture. 

I particularly like this one. 

.. And here are the Snow Men..in the half-bath ..

Whoa...I didn't realize that sink was so ugly, until I saw it in this picture, too. 

It must actually look much better in person!

The snowman soap dispenser on the left came from Kohl's a few years ago. I was thrilled to find it because my color scheme is blue and white! To the left and behind that snowman is a glass bowl with a few blue and gold plastic ornaments and sparkly stars.The snowman on the right is plastic and from Dollar Tree. He's adorable and his hat looks like it's real yarn. 

And a white hand towel with snowmen on it!

More snowmen. Another blue and white duo, on a sled. One under a candle lamp, and a little guy on skis. 

And another hand towel 

* Please don't forget about my Kickstarter Project. Thanks so much *

*I'm dreaming of a White Christmas* because we had a dusting of snow today and some fierce winds that are still blowing. BUT, according to the weather prognosticators...it's not going to happen. :(