Emotional Decorating......

I'm an odd person when it comes to emotional things. I don't always get emotional over the things I should and other times the smallest things can set me off. This week it was Christmas ornaments. Am I the only person in the world who tears up over Christmas ornaments?

This is the first ornament that goes on my tree every year. My grandmother passed away from cancer the day before my 2nd birthday. She was so ill that that Christmas that she couldn't do any shopping, but had ornaments purchased for all of her grandchildren. This little reindeer was mine. I have no memories of her, but somehow this makes me feel a little closer to her. And that begins the emotions.

These two belonged to my husband as a child, also a gift from his grandmother. I love how delicate they are and that his initials and the year are engraved on them.

I got this ornament when my nephew (who is now a 7th grader!) was just a baby. Look at those cheeks! I love this picture of my mom holding him.

 This was a wedding gift, engraved with our name and the year. It was one of three that we received. I love the simplicity of it.

 

 

My husband received airplane themed ornaments growing up, and I've carried on the tradition each year. 

I love the details in all of these.......

 

And how adorable is this cat in an airplane??? I crack up every time I see it.

Speaking of cats..........my two little buddies. Don't know what I would do without them.

 

 One of my new favorite ornaments - this was made by a very talented friend. I would never have the patience!

Last, but not least....another one that makes me tear up; mainly because I tear up at this show every year. Come on, tell me you don't? I teared up for another reason this year, as it seems to be broken. It should light up along with playing Linus explaining the real meaning of Christmas. Alas, not this year. But I still love it.... :)

So, are you emotionally attached to any of your ornaments?

~ Adrienne

Give Thanks.......

 In honor of the Thanksgiving 

holiday I thought I would take time to reflect on all of the things that I have to be thankful for. I'm always grateful for the really major things - plenty of food to eat, my health, and a roof over my head, but sometimes we need to focus on the small things as well. Some days we need to be reminded that it's the little things that can make life so special......

• The wonder of cell phones - being able to talk to my Mom today (4 hours away) just to catch up for a minute.
• Thankful for people who are always prepared - when I went to make the spaghetti for tonight's dinner, I realized that we were out. Someone (Hubby) had forgotten to inform someone else (Me) when they used the last box, but I digress. Thankfully Hubby was able to stop at his parent's on the way home to grab a box - one of the 9 that they apparently had on hand. Thank you!
• Peanut Butter & Co. Dark Chocolate Dreams Peanut Butter - (sorry, not sure why the link isn't working.) Yes I know that I have given up cut back on sugar, but this stuff is pure heaven. One spoonful can erase an entire day of horrible. 
• A snuggling kitty....(or any pet). A couple of friends have lost pets this week, which makes me want to hug mine even more. Pets are family members, little people covered with fur and the most amazing friend you could ever have. If you have a pet, I hope you realize right now how lucky you are to have them. 

                          

•  Traditions.....Yes we'll eat turkey and stuffing and way too many desserts. But one of the things I'm most excited (and thankful) for about Thanksgiving, is that Hubby and I will also go out to cut down our Christmas tree that same day. We wander out onto his uncle's property, scouting out the perfect tree (Okay, some years they've been Charlie Brown trees, but we love them just the same) and by Saturday we'll have it up, ready to be decorated. Speaking of traditions - we also have to have National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation playing in the background while we trim the tree. We like to quote from it, and often:

• Can I refill your eggnog for you? Get you something to eat? Drive you out to the middle of nowhere and leave you for dead?  
• Don't throw me down, Clark. I'll try not to, Aunt Bethany... 
• You surprised to see us, Clark?
  Oh, Eddie... If I woke up tomorrow with my head sewn to the carpet, I wouldn't be more surprised than I am now. 
  
  Oh and last but not least.......Days off - I'm thankful that the day after Thanksgiving I can sleep in, have coffee in bed, snuggle with a kitty and reflect on all that I have to be thankful for......
  
  
  
  
  What little things are you thankful for this week?
  
  ~ Adrienne
  
  Happy Thanksgiving!!!
  
  

  PS - Just an update to a previous blog - My MIL watched the cats while we were away this weekend and apparently one of my pumpkins found their way to the trash can. It's a sickness.....

Independence Day

Small reminders of what today is all about......Happy Independence Day!

This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.
~Elmer Davis


You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness.  You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism.  ~Erma Bombeck

Those who won our independence believed liberty to be the secret of happiness and courage to be the secret of liberty.  ~Louis D. Brandeis


And I'm proud to be an American,
where at least I know I'm free.
And I won't forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.
~Lee Greenwood

I prefer liberty with danger to peace with slavery.  ~Author Unknown

Where liberty dwells, there is my country.  ~Benjamin Franklin

                                                                                             

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year....

"Summer afternoon, summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language."
- Henry James

   In my humble opinion, today should be considered a national holiday. The summer solstice for me, marks the absolute best time of the year. Anyone who knows me can tell you that I am perpetually cold. I kid you not when I say I once climbed to the top of the Wright Brother's Memorial on a day when it was 110 degrees with the heat index.....and I was comfortable. So you can imagine why this season is my favorite time of the year. What's not to love?

• Flip Flops, bare toes, painted toes, cool air rushing over feet that have been crammed inside of heavy socks and bulky boots for far too many months.
• Patios, Decks, Stoops, and Porches.....add a few friends and a drink or two for instant fun.
• Along those same lines....restaurants with outdoor patios. Buffalonians loooove to eat and in the summer months the restaurants that feature an outdoor eating area, are crammed to the breaking point with customers.
• Driving with the windows down, singing along to an amazing summer tune...May I suggest, "Summer in the City", "Saturday in the Park", "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay" and my all time favorite "Cruel Summer."
• Hot cement under your feet, as you head for a pool....God bless our neighbors for being so generous with theirs. :)
• Watching everything grow....Basil, Rosemary, Patio Tomatoes, Coreopsis, Dahlias, Rosebushes and Astilbe. 
• Hot summer nights, sleeping with an old fashioned box fan in the window. Love that white noise....and for those of you who suggest air conditioning to me; please refer to the section of the blog that refers to my issues with cold.
• Reading/napping in a hammock on a lazy afternoon....if you do not have one, I HIGHLY suggest that you invest in one. Your happiness may depend on it....
• Summer Food...watermelon, strawberries, clams, corn on the cob, basil and tomatoes, ice cream cones that could feed a small village and of course a burger straight from the grill with all the fixings...(this was dinner tonight in honor of the soon to be national holiday.)
• A Great Thunder storm (Let me preface this by saying the storm should not cause any damage.) Sitting in the dark, watching the sky light up from the heavens, can be a pretty amazing sight....
• Getting to be a kid again....running barefoot, playing frisbee, watching for fireflies, picnics, and blowing bubbles! Yes, I said blowing bubbles. I realize I'm 30......something but I dare you to get yourself a bottle of bubbles and not end up grinning from ear to ear. Seriously a simple pleasure in life...and those are the best.

So as we close out the 1st official day of summer, Happy Holiday to you and yours....... :)
     ~ Adrienne

PS - Go get an ice cream....:)