* I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas! *

(google image)

I look at this photo and I feel happy, peaceful, & serene. The beautiful house, decorated for Christmas. The warm glow of the inside lights at dusk. And of course the magnificent, glorious snow!

This is the kind of house I dreamed of living in when I was a young girl. I assumed the only people who could possibly live in such a grand house would be doctors or lawyers and their families!

Although I don't live in a house that looks like this...my house is my home. I feel happy, peaceful and serene inside of it. And I'm definitely dreaming of, and aniticipating.....a White Christmas! (thanks to the weather forecast in my area!)  ** Update: Weather guy on channel 11 noon news/weather predicted a 100% chance of snow and a White Christmas!...and yes, I want all of us travelers to be safe, too! **

~On a side note: I'd like to say a huge thank-you to Robert Brault for his very kind post of December 15, 2010 AND to all his fantastic followers who stopped by...just because Robert suggested it! I'm truly honored and grateful to all of you.~

"Cheerfulness keeps up a kind of daylight in the mind, filling it with a steady and perpetual serenity." ~ Joseph Addison

* It Doesn't Seem Like Tuesday...Again *

The progressive dinner Sunday night was tons of fun, but I was really worn out after everyone left. Part of me just wanted to go to bed and leave the mess for the next day, but the sensible part won out. I turned the TV channel to the Traditional Christmas Music station and sang along. It didn't take long at all and I enjoyed myself while I worked. The dining room and kitchen were sparkly and clean when I came down the stairs Monday morning......

Monday morning.....a week since we said goodbye to Tiger Girl. I still miss her so much, but I'm doing better than I thought I would. Of course, something will happen, or not happen...and then the sadness resurfaces. I know it will just take time......

Time......Just yesterday, I had a feeling come over me that I wished I could throw a lasso over Time and stop it, or at least slow it down for a little while. I've never felt quite that way before and I don't know if it's just because of my age, or the fact that we just lost Tiger Girl, or what.........

What I love about this time of year is all the Christmas music, TV shows and movies. I can't seem to get enough. It doesn't even matter if I've heard or seen something a zillion times.....and sometimes, my favorites are the ones that are so corny......

"You know, it sounds corny, but I believe in myself. And I work hard." -- Arthur Godfrey

* Getting Ready for Progressive Dinner *

I LOVE to have friends over for dinner, but we do it way too seldom. That's one thing I plan to do more of in 2011. My cooking definitely is not gourmet, but at least I can set a pretty table!

Tonight's progressive dinner begins at S's for appetizers, then here for the main course, and on to J's for dessert! (Yes, the table is set for eight. We're not stopping at R's house this year.) I hope all of you have had the chance to participate in one of these evenings. It is so much fun, especially during the holidays...seeing everyone's home decorated so beautifully!

 

More photos later tonight........

Now, I just hope Santa brings that new camera I really, really want! Wouldn't you agree that I need one?!

"If you make it plain you like people, it's hard for them to resist liking you back." -- Lois McMaster Bujold

* Staying Busy & Looking for Joy *

“The key to success is often the ability to adapt.” -- Unknown

                                                                                                         

"Believe in love. Believe in magic. Believe in Santa Claus. Believe in others. Believe in yourself. Believe in your dreams. If you don't, who will?" -- Jon Bon Jovi

 

"Christmas is a day of meaning and traditions, a special day spent in the warm circle of family and friends." ~Margaret Thatcher

(All photos taken by Becky Dec. 2010)

I'm trying to stay as busy as possible, so I don't have time to sit around and miss Tiger Girl too much. It gets a little better every day, until something happens to trigger a specific memory. I know we did the right thing and she's in a better place....but that doesn't stop me from missing her constant presence. 

I hope to get back to my "normal" self soon.....to post often, to write again, to not have an ache in my heart.

"Dogs are miracles with paws." ~Attributed to Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy

* Tearful Goodbye to Tiger-Girl *

We had to bid a tearful goodbye to our beloved Tiger Girl this morning. She has been my constant companion for almost 14 years and I can't begin to express how sad I am. She was such a good and sweet dog. She had ovbiously slowed down the past year, but was doing fine, for an older dog. Then the past couple of weeks, she wasn't eating well and was sleeping more. This morning, we knew something was terribly wrong. Fortunately, I was able to reach Mark, and he came home to go to the vet with us. We held her close, and told her goodbye at approximately 11:00 am, CST.  The following photos are from various years, mostly the past two or three. One of my favorites is of her, napping on her bed, complete with her special pillow. *NOTE: I forgot to mention that we got Tiger at a shelter when she was only 6 months old. After we'd had her for only a couple of weeks, she was diagnosed with Parvo. Not able to see our regular vet that night, I was told we should just "give her back" before we "get too attached to her"! Can you imagine? We already were attached to her, so she got the treatments and obviously survived!

I will miss her so, so much. There will never be another dog like my Tiger Girl.

* Old Man Winter Has Arrived *

My part of the Midwest isn't buried under record snowfall, thank goodness, but we did get a bit of the white stuff here....about 3 inches of powdery snow. The wind has been strong and steady, too, making the wind chill VERY cold! Luckily, I didn't have to leave my nice, warm home at all today. I continued working on my Christmas cards, baked a couple dozen chocolate chip cookies (oh yeah!), did another load of laundry, wrote a few e-mails, lit and enjoyed the flickering & aroma of candles, read a little while, watched some TV, took a nap, let Tiger out....let Tiger in....let Tiger out...you get the idea! All in all....a very blissful day!

*One other note: For some reason, I seem to have lost a follower. Just when I annouced and thanked my newest followers, reaching the fabulous number of 150.....I look at my blog this evening and there are only 149. I don't know what happened and I'm sorry if I upset someone.

"O Winter! ruler of the inverted year, . . . I crown thee king of intimate delights, Fireside enjoyments, home-born happiness, And all the comforts that the lowly roof Of undisturb'd Retirement, and the hours Of long uninterrupted evening, know." -- William Cowper

* Anthologies, Friends, Book Store, Food Bank *

Patchwork Path; Treasure Box has arrived! I really love this book. The patchwork design on the cover and back is so unique, and the quality of the entire book is great. It has quotes here and there all throughout the book, and y'all know how much I love quotes! I've only read a couple of stories so far, but enjoyed them very much.

    Here's one of the unique things I like. The photo below is a portion of the back of the book. I took the picture this way because I wanted everyone to see my name, plus my wonderful blog friend, Claudia McKinney Mundell's name!! Besides the fact that we're both in this book, Claudia's story is the one right before mine! I consider that one of my serenditpitous happenings!! Congrats again, Claudia! I'm happy we share yet another thing in common! (love of books, writing, doilies, tea cups, etc..)



Speaking of friends and anthologies; a lot of you may have already seen Linda's and/or Tammy's blogs where they mentioned participating in a book signing tomorrow. Well, now it's my turn to mention it, too! (Theresa doesn't have a blog.) The following part is taken directly from Main Street Books website:

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CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL Special Event

Four St. Charles/St. Louis area Chicken Soup for the Soul writers will participate in a multi-author book signing on Saturday, December 11th, 2010 from 1-3 p.m. at Main Street Books, 307 S. Main Street in St. Charles, MO.

Customers may bring in a canned good to be donated to a St. Charles food pantry and receive 20% off their entire purchase that day!

Participating authors include: T’Mara Goodsell, Linda O’Connell, Becky Povich, and Theresa Sanders.


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Although I have stories in previous editions of Chicken Soup for the Soul books, I'll be signing the Thin Threads and Patchwork Path books this time. And as I've been mentioning the past couple of weeks, I'll donate $5.00 per book to the local Habitat for Humanity office, for every Thin Threads book I sell.

Those of us who have a warm home and plenty of food to eat most likely have never had to endure a time without having these necessities of life. Please come by, bring a canned good or two and buy at least one book. You'll be helping many people! Happy Holidays!

(Also, thanks to my four newest followers! I am excited because with the 4th one: Miss C.C., I have reached an unbelievable number of 150 Followers!! Thank you everyone, so much. I truly appreciate each and every one of you! The four newest are: C.C., Pam, Stephen Tremp, and a name I just love....Bill, The Old Fart!)

*Speaking of followers, here's something really cool. I was just recently one of four winners on Lydia's "500 Followers Contest". I received a $15.00 gift card to what I commented my favorite independent book store was....and yes, you guessed it.....Main Street Books! Thanks again, Lydia! I'll most likely spend that money tomorrow! Go check out Lydia's blog: "The Word is My Oyster" and you'll see why she now has over 540 followers!!

"When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around." -- Willie Nelson

"There is a calmness to a life lived in gratitude, a quite joy." -- Ralph H. Blum

* That's Not Very Lady-Like! *

You know about going to a dollar store intending to buy just a couple of things?? Well, when I went to Dollar Tree today, my "couple of things" turned into about 35 things. They were all vital necessities, though....you gotta believe me....except for this little lady below. She's one of those 6-inch-tall-ceramic-pieces-of-art that I normally would not care to buy....but she made me laugh, so I had to bring her home, too! AND, she was among other little statuettes that were priced 2 for $1.00.

 Look how she's standing!! She looks like she's SCRATCHING HER BUTT!!

Plus, she has a look of discomfort on her face!! I swear!!

Nothing like a 50¢ item to just make my day...and hopefully yours, too! ☺

“I base most of my fashion taste on what doesn't itch.” -- Gilda Radner