Cake

Angie has the spirit and the know how;  what a great job of baking goodies for the holiday and sharing...wow.   great job Angie.

It is an Osprey, a bird of mystery

and you cannot go wrong.

Well every little hint of calorie saving is appreciated.

A birthday dinner at the Bistro is a must, a bit on the pricey side but worth it as the food is elegant and the chef knows his way around the kitchen.    The brochette was a lovely start that was devoured in seconds, the salad made your mouth water for more and then the main dish was well presented and so very tasty...scallops...yum.....I'd love to know what and how to make the sauce they were smothered in;  delicious is hardly the word to describe the taste.   Birthday dinner is an excellent gift and a memory builder.

Pat and I took a walk down the main street as we were early getting to the Bistro.    We opened the door of the restaurant and told the waiter to save us a table and that we would be right back.   He nodded yes and off we went to look into a couple of antique stores that were still open.    Two lovely ladies were outside sitting at a small able eating their dinner.    One proved to be the new owner and surprisingly the daughter-in-law of one of the ladies here at Ridgemont.   We had a delightful conversation and hopefully we will visit her again.  

 

Christine and Patricia worked at the Little Log Cabin Museum where Santa reigns on Sunday afternoons before  Christmas.  The lines were long in spite of the rain and Santa was kept very busy listening to the wants of the little ones.    There was a family with three little ones who came with a list as long as their arms.   They know what they want Santa to bring.    The group does a great job and each one goes home with a picture with Santa.    I bet they do some dreaming of what is to come on Christmas morning.  

 

So the sights and sounds of Christmas abounds and we all have much to do.    Time to think, to do, to take a moment to find reasons to make someone happy.    Look around, you will know .    Keep some tiny candies in your pocket as you know you will meet someone who can use a candy kiss.  It may be the only one they get ...ah you can do even better, reach out and share a hug or two, make someone smile and feel the warmth of YOU.   Hugs to all. 

 

Christmas Tea

The Court, such pretty lovely young ladies who helped the Gallery Crew serve high tea....The Christmas Tea and it was a huge success.    Lots of folks out in the rain and wind , names taken for the children's tree, tickets bought for the raffle and gifts purchased for family and friends.  a very successful affair and there was no stinting in the elegant sandwiches and delightful pastries;  not to mention the tea itself and the wonderful men who pour with such grace and smiles.  I'd say a good time was had by all.

Now that seems to have some merit.   I would say the water is important for ones health but then a bit of wine can't do any harm...now I said a bit....eight glasses would send you to the moon quickly and you would miss all the fun.

I never heard of a black lion...what a beauty.....

And you thought there was nothing new to do with horseshoes.   Someone is very clever.   A very neat tree, very modern  in style.  

Well it is the morning after the Christmas Tea and in spite of the rain and  the wind teeming about in all directions, the folks ventured out and arrived at the Gallery in good time.   The tables were many, set in a Christmas array and the tiny delicious sandwiches were gobbled up so quickly you would think no one had breakfast earlier in the day.   The trays were filled with tasty fruit and bits of chocolate nestled within.   The two men who served two different delicious teas were at the ready and didn't stop pouring for a second.  The tea cup was never empty.    Prizes were won, folks did a bit of Christmas shopping before leaving  and the young beauties did a great job serving as they wore their crowns and enjoy being The Court.. . .  never to busy to help out at an event.    One young lady was celebrating her birthday so it was fun to stop the event and sing to her.    Yeah, they still giggle even when wearing their crown.    I would venture to say the party was a huge success.  The ladies did what one would call a 'bang up job' and smiled while they did it.    I bet they were happy to take their shoes off and lay down early for a good nights rest.   They get to do it all over again next June.   I can hardly wait to find out what the theme will be and the date.  It really is a fun affair.

 

There is no sense in mentioned weather as I think all of us are in the same boat...or should be as the winter rains persist and the wind doesn't ease off.    Once in a while a lull so we know it is not going to last forever but it sure seems so.   I know, I know count our blessings.....we needed rain, lots of it, but how does one turn off the weather when they feel they have had enough....can't do it, so just relax and enjoy it for whatever it is.     Get up and get going as there is a lot to do this week.   Time flies when you are having fun, so perk up and get with the 'program' which means shopping, wrapping and all that good stuff.    Christmas is such fun.    Christmas is good for us.    Christmas is not always good for some, so keep your eyes and ears open and be Santa to those who have so little.   Take some cans of food to the Food Bank today, help the folks pass out some food to those who have so little.   Look for a Christmas tree with tags on them and help by buying a gift for a young girl or boy or an elderly person who has nothing or no one to make their Christmas special....just think of it....they do have YOU......so get busy, be as generous as you can be and it will put a smile on  your face, a bit in your heart and a lot in your soul.   Good deeds are the road to success in life....it makes you shine...so bet busy and be a glittering force ...SHINE!!!  Hugs to all.

 

Joy

Ha, ha, this picture reminds me of one I have of my first three children.  I dressed them up and took them to a studio for a real good picture I could share with family and friends.   It was not to their liking and the expressions were similar, although two were a bit more cooperative...one refused to smile...  Maybe if we pretend they are singing it will spread some of that Joy....but I doubt it....

A lovely picture of the Tetons in winter dress.  The buffalo don't seem to mind a snowy trek .   "Baby it's cold outside' comes to mind.   

Down at Shore Acres in Oregon the waves are awesome to see.   The folks were treated to a fantastic wave show.   A really awesome place to visit.  

Big doings here in Port Orchard today.    A home brunch for the folks here in Ridgemont.   Debby and family put on a brunch twice a year to honor their mother Laverne who lives here.   The folks are in for a treat.    I wont be there this time as I am heading for the Gallery Christmas tea today.    The ladies have outdone themselves and have special treats ready to serve.   It is high tea served at its best.

People are amazing as they love to share their holiday spirit with others.    They go out of their way to make the holiday special, especially for those who have no family to celebrate with.   Take time to look around and see who may be in need of an invitation and find a way to make their day special.   Start off lighting a candle for those who have gone on before us.    Bake a few extra cookies for the food bank so that others can celebrate with a home baked cookie or cake.    Sharing is caring so get busy and share you with those you love and like, then add a perfect stranger to the midst and learn a bit on how the other half live.    Remember our veterans who are in the hospital.   Remember our service men and women who cannot be home this holiday season.    Your chances to do good deeds lie before you like a beacon just waiting for you to light up a bit of your world.    Be a light and make your little corner of the world bright and beautiful, just like YOU.  Hugs to all.  

Idioms

The dictionary says Idiom is an expression peculiar to a language.  the attachment said "Lost Words of our childhood" . . . "Heaven to Murgatroyd!" and that the spell checker did not recognize the word murgatroyd.    The attachment was lengthy and I am not sure you would enjoy reading all of it, although, I think you would get a big kick out of it.   Some of the words you probably have ingrained in your brain from childhood, others may never have heard them, so I'm going to choose some and see what kind of  reaction I get.   The author of the article is Richard Lederer "Words and phrases remind us of the way we word"

As the author said, :I hope you are 'hunky dory' after you read this and chuckle.   Some of the expressions have become obsolete..."don't touch that dial," "You sound like a broken record." or "Hung out to dry".  In the old days we had "a lot of moxie."  We put on "our best bib and tucker" or were told to "straighten up and fly right".  Hubba-hubba .  We'd cut a rug in some juke joint and then go necking and petting and smooching and spooning and billing and cooing and pitching woo in hot rods and jalopies in some passion pit or lovers lane.  Heavens to Betsy!  Gee  whillikers! Jumping Jehoshaphat! Holy Moley! We were in like Flynn and living the Life of Riley, and even a regular guy couldn't accuse us of being a knucklehead, a nincompoop or a pill.  Not for all the tea in China.

The author went on with a lot more and wound up saying "We of a certain age have been blessed to live in changeful times.  For a child each new word is like a shiny toy, a toy that has no age.  We at the other end of the chronological arc have the advantage of remembering there are words that once did not exist and there were words that once strutted their hour upon the earthy stage and now are heard no more, except in our collective memory.  It's one of the greatest advantages of aging.  We can have archaic (always thought it was cake) and eat it too..." See you later alligator! After awhile crocodile."

I am laughing because some of these idioms come naturally and I spout them all the time.  I hope you had a short walk down memory lane and remember a few favorites of your very own.

Go, have some fun today and throw a few of those fancy words around and see what kind of reaction you get.    Top your words with a hug or two, add a good deed and a smile and you will have made your day and some one else you love and like one very 'happy camper'.   Hugs to all.

THOUGHTS

Wouldn't you like to get in your car today and ride along this highway.   The beautiful Columbia River. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTINE, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU. . . My first born, the one who taught me what love meant, my helper, my right arm, my survivor of being first born, who has brought so much love and laugher into my life.   May your day be as bright and beautiful as you are.

We are going to celebrate this week but not until after the Saturday Tea the Gallery puts on, and, Ms. Christine is in her kitchen baking cakes, cookies, and fancy pastries for the occasion.  I know because she sent over a gingerbread yesterday for tasting then decided to try a different recipe and I have no idea what she has over in her kitchen but have my marching orders to be a frosting expert today....so the plan is for a special dinner out at her favorite restaurant on  Sunday evening when she can sit down, relax and enjoy a birthday dinner....no mess to clean up, no dishes to do, and hopefully a special menu to please her appetite.   

Here at Ridgemont the folks are gearing up for a ride over to Debbie's Home for a brunch.  Debbie is the daughter of Laverne , one of our lovely ladies and she puts on a special luncheon twice a year at her home and treats her mom and friends to a lovely lunch out.    Karen, our manager, gets the big bus and off they go to a lovely home by the waterfront, a specially built home that is beautiful and one we would all love to have.   She enlists the aid of her daughters and her husband pitches in as well.   The food is always delicious and the treat is really appreciated by all.    A loving tribute to her mom. . . a special young lady with a big heart.   Sad to say I wont be going this time as it is the day of the Gallery Tea and I have already bought my ticket and love to attend them.   I get to meet some really lovely ladies and the treats are always delicious.   

Vinnie and I had a good long read yesterday.   We are almost to the end of "Winds of War" and it has been quite an enlightening trip back in history.    Some things I vaguely remember but I was a teen ager and not paying close attention to what was going on in the outside world. I was too busy trying to make my way through the teen years.    Vinnie is on the look out for the sequel and he asked if I would think about reading that one to him as he really enjoys listening.   I think his eyes are better and he can read but he also likes company and so far hasn't fallen asleep while I 'drone' on.    So we will be reading for awhile yet.   It is fun to be a 'reader' so you might think about visiting a veteran's hospital and volunteer to read or write letters for them or just keep them company.   A little attention is the difference between boredom and a bit of good cheer.   Think about it.

I'm off to get dressed and get to my 'frosting' job.    I may be a little artistic today;  one never knows.   Put a brush in my hands and watch out.     Meanwhile, find yourself a helping job or two and keep yourself busy doing good deeds today.     Be wise, be kind, be a lover. . hugs are always welcomed.   If it is raining enjoy the inside but if the sun is out ...go fishing....relax and enjoy outside time.   Hugs to all.

Bang

Shake, Rattle and Roll. . .Mt. Etna showing off with a boom and a blast.    Awesome beauty. Nature on a rampage.  The devil's fist or a fiery dragon on the loose.

Just a cutie looking for a good time.

An amazing picture.   The aftermath of sorrow.   War is hell.

The wind blows and the power goes out, luckily not for very long.   We had a deluge and a big blowing for awhile but it didn't last long , the weather calmed down and we went about our business.    I had a lesson on time as I have to put eye drops in my eyes every hour on the hour for the next three days.  I found out I have  no sense of time as I had time fly bye in hours when I thought it was minutes.   The eye doctor will wonder if I ever learned to tell time.    My list is slowly lacking.  I'll try to do better today , although I cannot promise as watching a clock is not my forte.

The carolers came and were wonderful.  Such a happy sound.   I had cookies and candy ready and got a hug. . . one man said that I must have had children, laughed and said it was my white hair that gave me away.    Neighbor Betty stopped in and said hardly anyone left their doors open.    You would think they would all be open to hear the lovely Christmas voices raised to make us a special part of the Christmas season.     A bit of Scrooge abides and that is sad.  

 

The Christmas spirit is on the rise and I am going to be out the door for a ride to one of the malls close by...well a half hour away...that's close....so I am told.    I have to find a birthday present for daughter Christine and pick out a couple of Christmas gifts with no idea in mind as to what to buy, but. maybe I'll get an idea when I look around.    I think every catalog in creation has found its way to my mail box.  I have poured over them and think I'd like to send this...or that....and change my mind once I add up my choice and the mailing costs...are they kidding?   I would need to strike gold if I was to place an order.  So, today I have my work cut out for me.   Wish me luck.

 

I wish you luck.  I hope if you are shopping today you find some specials and  get your Christmas list finished.  Treat yourself to a break time and have a cup of your special brew with a treat for energy to continue your quests.    Don't forget the wrapping paper and ribbon, you probably wont remember where you stored it away last year.    Get in the mood and start humming a Christmas carol or two....hug your neighbor . . . don't forget a good deed as it is a blessing in disguise.    I know, I know, I keep repeating myself. . . well, someone has to remind  you.    Be good, be kind, be generous to a fault. . ..who ever made up that little tidbit. . . go....spend a few shekels ;  you just cannot take them with you.   Three little words. . .Live. . .Love . . Laugh and do it....but I like ...I love you. . ... has such a nice ring to it.   Be a lover and love someone today.  Hugs to all.

 

What?

Santa has come to town and the folks have brought the children to whisper in his ear.   A good turnout here in Port Orchard and a terrific Santa with listening ears.     How excited the children get as they whisper sweet nothings into Santa's ear....It makes me wonder what the children are asking for this year.  What kind of toys are out there that  fill their eyes with light and laughter.  

This is called 'turnip rock' strange and beautiful.   I wonder if it rolled off a mountain or emerged from the sea.   One of natures wonders....a small cabin?   a fishing pole?   and a row boat . .  a summer hideaway.

1919 a touring car.  How about those outfits?   hats?  hats?   people wore hats . . . a long time ago.    I used to wear one to church back in the fifties but they have long gone out of style.   We have become a bit slovenly in our dress code; no chic, no finesse, no dressing up...a pair of jeans, or slacks, a sweat shirt or a tee, no more style and we wonder what happened to us here in America....what ever happened to good taste?     We chose comfort over chic, not all bad, but we did go a little overboard.  

 

What a wet yesterday and more rain due in for days and days.   It doesn't slow the traffic down around here as we found out when I had to go back tot he eye doctor to have her check out my eyes.    I had a small procedure done a week ago to see if anything could help what is called 'dry eye' but should be called '"wet eye' as the eyes want to spill tears but no tears fell and pressure built up or so I thought but it turned out to be scratches on the eye ball...why?  where did they come from?   how come they hurt?   no real answers, just hers to understand and me to wonder why.....eye drops every hour;  and come back in six months.   From what I understood, I have eye lids that want to go in rather than stay put and scratch the eye.  Wouldn't you know I had to have something different. . . not a new development , sort of an old problem but I gather getting older has something to do with it....doesn't everything?    Age is blamed for a lot of changes in our bodies and rightfully so, it is wearing out , a sort of a thumb your nose time as nature gets even for all the use and abuse of the years.   So if you are looking for me, I'm trying to put one eye drop in each eye every hour on the hour today. . . all I need is patience and a steady hand.

 

Christine and I went to lunch at a little restaurant in a back alley here in Port Orchard.    They have a little store in the front with a counter loaded with wonderful meats and cheeses and an expert sandwich maker.   Christine chose a meatball sandwich and I had a cup of delicious tomato basil soup and a half pastrami sandwich which was delicious.   A celebration knowing that the eye problem is treatable and blindness is not at the ready....yeah, we do have a tendency to think like that when things happen for no good reason.    We are all so vulnerable and lead ourselves down a worry path before we really know what is going on.   The old folks used to say 'we borrowed trouble'  and they were right, like putting , as they would say, 'the cart before the horse' and worry ourselves into a problem or two.   

 

So....take good care of yourselves.   Get those yearly checkups.    Don't neglect the eyes, the ears and the body itself.    You are the keeper of your own bodies so be a 'keeper' and shine with good health.    A smile, a hug, a good deed all contribute to this type of living and caring for oneself.   The more you do the better you are.....so practice daily.....look around and be the first Christmas elf bringing joy and love to all of those you like and love .    Hugs to all.