Doris Day Saved My Life

As I blog hopped the other day, I came across one that really intrigued me....but do I remember whose it was, or how I got there? Of course not. One of the things I liked about this particular blog was that in her Profile, she said she loved Doris Day movies. But it's not because of Doris or any of her leading men. I think it had something to do with the furniture decor in the 60s, and she may have mentioned Doris' costumes, too....but I'm not sure.



(Doris in the 1950s - courtesy Google)



When I first saw the name "Doris Day," I thought, OMG, another Doris Day fan! But it wasn't the case, and that's okay. I won't hold it against her! ☺



(Doris in the 1960s - courtesy Google)

Just last night I read an article about Doris releasing a CD this Friday. What a surprise, because she chose to walk away from the Hollywood lifestyle many years ago.

And as far as Doris saving my life.....I can honestly say that she did, in more ways than one. A chapter in my memoir explains it all.

Welcome to my newest followers, Laura Barnes & Cheryl. I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! Thank you!


Que sera sera
Whatever will be will be
The future's not ours to see
Que sera sera

* Nostalgic Sundays *

Time for Another Nostalgic Sunday

Since this is the first Sunday after Thanksgiving and the TV weather folks say we may get a few snow flurries today, I'm definitely feeling Christmasy!

Let's take a look at some Christmases past:

I bought this hat Christmas 2008

 when I worked at Barnes & Noble during the holidays.

I sewed the red ribbon on it to tie under my neck,

because it wouldn't stay on.

I couldn't wear it very long at work,

 though, because my head would get too hot!

~~~~~~~

This goes way back...to Christmas 1977.

That's me on the left and my sister Jo Ann on the right.

I don't know if I've mentioned that she was an artist;

pencil, chalk, oil paintings, sculpture, & wood carving.

This was taken at our mother's apartment in St. Louis.

Jo Ann made the sculpture on her left...probably way back

when she was in college and gave it to mom soon after.

I also lived in St. Louis then, but Jo Ann moved to

 Florida when I was in high school. When she came home for

Christmas, I always hoped she'd get snowed in

and wouldn't be able to fly home until a few days later!

We weren't able to see each other very often for many years,

due to the expense of flying.

* All through December I'll continue to post photos

 of Christmases Past on my Nostalgic Sundays. *

Welcome to my newest follower, Linda Young. I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! Thank you!

"At Christmas, all roads lead home." -- Marjorie Holmes

Wishing You a Blissful Thanksgiving

Although we had our family Thanksgiving last Saturday, I'll be roasting another turkey tomorrow! The past couple of years The Ronald and I have gone to our best friends' home on Thanksgiving Day, but this year, we're the hosts. I've been having fun setting the dining room table, actually using my china and good silverware.

I put the centerpiece together, just stuck the appropriate foliage in the basket.

Can you see the turkey candle stick holders?

There are tiny personal S&P shakers at the top left of each plate, too, which I think are so cute.

In November 2001, I bought this beautiful Norman Rockwell plate. It gave me such comfort to look at, since it was only two months after the horrible events of Sept. 11, 2001.

As the months went by, I bought the other three plates that are part of this collection called:

 The Four Freedoms

Freedom from Want.

Freedom of Speech.

Freedom of Worship.

Freedom from Fear.

FDR delivered his State of the Union Address on Januray 6, 1941,

 stating these four essential human rights.

This is the best picture I could get this evening.

This picture turned out pretty well, I think....but a little dark maybe?

"Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has many--not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some." -- Charles Dickens





It's Almost Wednesday and I'm Wide Awake

Such a busy, rainy day today. First I went to my "Coffee & Critique" group in the morning. Then I ended up spending way too much time on what was supposed to be a simple, one-stop errand. Don't even ask.

By the time I got back home, poor Vern followed me around and pleaded with his eyes. He loves to go on our walks. Fortunately the rain had stopped and it was only misting. But it was cold outside. (Baby, it's cold outside.... ♪♫ ) I bundled myself up and put his new sweater on him. Have I even mentioned that? I don't think I have. Although I'm a dog lover, I used to scoff at people who dressed their dogs in any kind of clothing. But, I discovered that Vern actually does get cold.....so voila'!

(photo taken by Becky)

I think he needs a bigger size! I'm not sure since I don't know how a sweater should fit a dog. I do know that I have to giggle because he reminds me of Porky Pig. Remember how he always wore just a shirt and NO PANTS?! What's up with that?

(courtesy: google)

But Vern seems to really like his sweater, and he lets me put it on him with ease. Have I mentioned how much I love this dog?? Every time we go on our walk, I think, We may have saved his life, but he's also saved mine, to an extent. I've mentioned the weight I've lost, mostly due to walking, which should also effect my cholesterol in a very positive way, etc. I expect to live to be 100!

"If your dog is fat, you aren't getting enough exercise." -- Unknown

* Nostalgic Sundays *

Since we had our family Thanksgiving yesterday, I've been trying to think back all those years to my childhood Thanksgivings. At first I found it rather odd that I couldn't seem to remember anything really specific about them. Years ago, though, I heard that the best memories children have aren't those extravagant birthday or Christmas gifts, nor those vacations to Disney World, but they're the ones about snuggling at bedtime and having a book read to them, or the impromptu singing and dancing that their parents did when they heard a certain song on the radio.

I'm fairly certain when I was really young, like four and five years old, my older sisters brought a friend home for Thanksgiving dinner. They were in college at that time and there were always a few students who couldn't go home for the holiday, so they were welcomed at our house.

The only other thing I remember at the moment is that us "kids," my brother Mike and me, were each given one of the turkey legs, the drumsticks. They seemed as big as my arm and I couldn't even finish eating mine.

We didn't live near any other family members, so we never spent Thanksgiving at a relative's home.  But I was perfectly happy with My family and My home, and never felt like I was missing anything.

(As I've mentioned before, these happy memories are from the years before my parents split up.Things changed after that.)

“We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.” –Cynthia Ozick





Winner of "Sort of a Blog Hop"

Good evening everyone! I apologize for being so late in posting the Winner of my Sort of a Blog Hop, but today was our family Thanksgiving and I was a bit tired when everyone left! Whew! We had a great time and thanks for all the well wishes.

(courtesy: Google)

So, without further adeui, the Winner of either the equally beautiful set of note cards or calendar is..............Becky Dunham of Bloglessinutah!

Congratulations to Becky and a heartfelt thanks to the other fabulous seven bloggers who participated. I truly appreciate your kindness for joining me in my first "Hop."  (And I must add a special note to Miss Sparkle Farkle: Your blog post for this was just awesome! Thanks so much for being your usual creative, crazy, wacky self!) The random-number-drawing-thingy chose number four, Branching Out, which was Becky's post title.

And don't forget, these are very reasonably priced....so buy some for yourself and for Christmas gifts!

To those of you who don't know what Becky won, she will be choosing from the following: A Robert Brault wall calendar for 2012, with beautiful pictures and quotes of his.

Or a set of 12 note cards with the same beautiful pictures and quotes.





Becky, please e-mail me with your mailing address and I'll get your order placed asap! Congrats, again!

I'll end this post as I always do, with a quote, and obviously it's one of my favorite Mr. Brault quotes!

"Looking back you realize that a very special person passed briefly through your life - and it was you. It is not too late to find that person again." -- Robert Brault







* I WONDER *

As usual, I've been mixed up about what day it is, but my laptop says it's Friday.

So, that means it's time for another I Wonder!

I wonder: If I'm becoming a real Miss Becky Homecky, because I baked four pies today! That is definitely a World Record for me! I've been making two pumpkin pies for Thanksgivng for many years, but I know that I've never made four, of any kind, in one day.

Now, before you get all impressed with my baking expertise....don't! Because I only use the easiest recipes and use every shortcut I can. Pillsbury rolled crusts, canned pumpkin, (does anybody use fresh pumpkin?) But, I am quite proud of myself for using apples, and not the canned kind!

My two pumpkin pies, ready to go into oven.

I'm not very fancy with the crust edges, either!

Baked, just right, and I only had to slide the knife in it twice.

Some years it looked like Zorro had his way with them!

This is my favorite kitchen gadget in the entire world!

If it wasn't for this, I wouldn't enjoy making apple pies so often.

I bought this at Bed, Bath & Beyond a few years ago and it still works great.

Layers of sliced/peeled apples, with sugar-cinnamon sprinkled on top.

I think y'all remember how much little things give me such joy?!

WELL, my Pampered Chef pastry blender is one of those!

I didn't have one for years and just used a fork, which worked fine,

but having a real one of these makes me feel like a REAL baker!

(this is the flour/sugar/butter mixture that gets sprinkled on top.)

Ready to pop into oven.

Baked, ready to cool, and serve tomorrow. Yummy!

It was 9:00pm when I took these from the oven. I still have things to do for tomorrow, but only simple things, like straightening up the family room, etc. So, all is good and I'm relaxed. Yay!

Welcome to my newest followers: "PJ @ Seens From The Backs Of My Eyelids" and "Cate Pearce." I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! Thank you!

 

“America has developed a pie tradition unequivocally and unapologetically at the sweet end of the scale, and at no time is this better demonstrated than at Thanksgiving.” -- Janet Clarkson. Pie: A Global History



Thoughts of Thanksgiving

Such busy times, but I'm trying to remember to take deep breaths, relax, and stay focused on what needs to be done...today, the next day, etc.

Such wise words from a little girl.

(courtesy: google)

Have I mentioned we're having our family Thanksgiving THIS Saturday? Since we're a blended family...Yours, Mine & Ours...there's more than the "usual" parents and in-laws involved, so things can get really hectic. We began celebrating this way quite a few years ago and it works really well. I always say, "How many huge Thanksgiving meals can a person be expected to eat in one day?!"


Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, with Christmas a very close second. It's all about family, friends, and food! No commercialism. Every time I think about roasting the turkey, I swear I can actually smell that aroma and it brings such memories.....

(courtesy: google)

 I love to bake pies the day before. This year I'm making my usual two pumpkin pies, plus two apple pies. Oh yeah, and some banana bread with cream cheese frosting. Mmm good!

I make this type of crumble top apple pie and it's so easy.

(courtesy: google)

Welcome to my newest followers: "Ocean Breezes and Country Sneezes" and "Deborah Pucci" and "I'm erin!" I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! Thank you!

"Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude." -- Denis Waitley