X Marks the Spot

May you all find memories to cherish this Day, n store them in the treasure chest of your heart.

My work-week has me still running behind the race n over-tired. Have been too sore after work at 4 am to get to the rest of the cards to send yet. Why does doing that always feel like taking a pop quiz in school? Luckily I nabbed cheap White-out at the Dollar tree, because my sore hands are too undisciplined for hand-writing these days. My  mistakes are numerous as my brain races ahead too fast...

For Xmas this year the weather is giving me warm temperatures n no shoveling necessary, Yay!

I made it out in the rain for last minute errands on Weds, n the stores were busy. I didn't want to try to last a week without Mischief's kitty litter.

After delivering some gifts for the morning, now I still have some little things to wrap for the day's main event down at BBM's place. Plus I decided to slow cook some veggies so there is something healthy to munch with the turkey for the meal.

The laundry is still waiting for attention before nap-time too.

Originl Pic from the top n 5th altered images. Who knew Santa Clause needs a racing car? These are from that decoration extravaganza down the street this year.

Gentle-persons, start your engines, ...n We're OFF!
Better get going here-

Merry Xmas All!

Ho-Ho Zzzz ...

Lying down on the job all day... 
Wide awake by night. 
Christmas decorations 
of plastic so bright.

 All over the lawn, 
all the way down the road, 
Jolly candy canes jingle
Tho no one is home.

Folks are out shopping,
Haggling down crisis.
Don't know where to find it, 
Scary high prices! 

There's not enough cash
to buy all the wishes.
Or pay the electric
bill for the glitz-es

..........................
That house is setting up tons of blow-up decs this year again/ They do a great entertainment job there, but the display lights n blown up balloon pieces are only on between 4:30 to 7 pm. I should walk over for new pics this  year.
These pics were uploaded last December.
They inspired the rhyme written into the editor by SnaggleTooth  today

July in December

Half a year ago, I felt so peaceful witnessing this pretty sunset in July. Currently the hectic pace  n conditions seem so opposite. From hot to frozen.  (These pics were saved in Drafts all this time). It's been so long since I stopped to see a pretty sunset here. I go to work n come home in the dark now, n I'm always on hurried errands on my free days.

Shopping is on, n there aren't enough hours to do it all...

Luckily funds soon diminish so we make do with whatever is available we can settle on.

What kills me, is when you have no idea what to get some family members, then find yourself wasting precious time wandering thru stores aimlessly perusing for nifty ideas. I won't shop online at all this year. This machine is a big time-eater loading catalog pics on dial-up.

Normally I find Photos to send out with cards, n I'm still sifting thru the split-up computer files from switching machines. I can't find any deemed "good enough" of folks to pass along from this cut back on pic taking year. Cards have to be out ASAP, n looks like they may be without pics this round. 

I have exactly 3 Days Off left to get all gifts together, n still have some aimless perusing left to do. Yikes - Too much going on. I'd so like to just stay in bed n sleep instead... but nothing would be done in time.

So the race is back on after this short pic break from winter... 

Happy bargain gift hunting all!

So Full

Tired is again catching up with me, along with feeling heavier... I just finished the last of the raspberry cheesecake pie, n apple pie, n chocolate Mousse pie yesterday. Luckily I'd been not eating alot for weeks leading up to ThanksGiving.

My holiday went well with visiting n eating good food, but I still had to skip sleeping to get to the early meal. For someone on a day schedule, it would compare to getting up at 3am n eating a hot meal when you're really not hungry yet. I took home alot of leftovers, n have been working on eating it in smaller portions all week.

Seven Little Ones, (The eldest now as tall as me), sat at the "Cousins" table n barely ate any of the traditional dishes. Seems we are raising a newer generation which prefers simple, n plain foods- such as white meat only with no gravy n vegetables without any butter. Each is so picky about their food in different ways.

This reminds me of my very picky father, who often wouldn't eat meals the rest of the family sat down to. He would usually eat French Toast instead. He did eat the turkey meals at least.

I always explain to the Little Ones who never met him, that my father would eat tomato sauce, bread, n cheese separately, but would not eat pizza! He was the only person I ever knew who didn't like pizza. He did like pasta n sauce alot tho. These young folks will only eat it plain, or with butter or cheese. But we cannot call it pasta to the away cousins, it must be called  "noodles."

It all seems so silly to me. So much emphasis on food prefer-
ences. Really the point was getting in more family time, n we are lucky we could this year.

This is the pretty dessert array we dug into after stuffing ourselves with turkey. I made Raspberry squares, Cran-Apple pie, n Pumpkin pie. Then there's a huge, deep dish Apple pie (containing 12 apples!), a Pumpkin cake, Triple Chocolate Mousse Pie, n The Raspberry Cheesecake pie.