Busted!

This is SO not allowed in my family room . . . but this old dog has been trying new tricks for the past few weeks. I can't imagine what she's thinking. Several times a day I'll find her cozied up on the couch, or rummaging through the garbage, or chewing something that she knows she shouldn't.

What's up with the attitude all of a sudden? Let's see, she's 8 in people years . . . so that's 56 in dog years, and she's turning a bit gray. Is this some kind of delayed mid-life crisis? She's breaking free..."Woof...it's now or never ... take chances...chew plastic...seize the day...sleep on the people couch...live the life I've always dreamed."

I'm not sure that much concious thought happens inside this particular canine cranium. This new Cassie is a mystery to me . . . but it's been interesting to say the least.

This guy is smart!

"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody."
~Bill Cosby

Indeed!

It must be Monday...

Yes, I love that sweet little toothless smile and construction paper ornament. She's 12 now!

There are children playing in the cupboard (thrifted bottle brush trees and the children were a freebie find . . .

and snowmen hiding among the mugs. And for today's excitement we woke up to no water in the taps. Apparently there's a 12 inch main break somewhere in the neighborhood and our whole area is without water for at least another 6 hours. Last week it was electricity, phone, and internet. It's all good though--a big reminder for us to be more diligent in our preparedness strategies!

A warm fuzzy sort of day

Is there any kid who hasn't made a popsicle stick reindeer ornament? And I'm the kind of mom who still hangs these on her tree, even though the kids are now 19, 17, 15 and 12-going-on-18!

Well, freezing rain made the roads all but impassable in the 'burgh today, with authorities asking drivers to stay off the roads unless it was absolutely necessary. Our Sunday meetings were cancelled, so I did NOT miss the first meeting in the new building after all.

Got the cowboy boot in there--a nod (or is that a kick in the pants) for the horse-lovers in the family. Feeling a bit better today--happy to report! Coughing a bit less, which is a mercy. So I made a big pot of chicken soup and two loaves of homemade bread. Yum!

And here is a bit of a nod to my Irish heritage--purchased this Claddagh in Ireland a few years ago. The musical instrument ornaments were from a co-worker back in my single days...um, that would be 22 years ago! I'd love to say that the shoes belong to my firstborn, but not so. I bought them at a wonderful second-hand shop in Ann Arbor, MI on Thanksgiving weekend, when two of my sweet sisters-in-law took me on a little outing.

Well the past couple of weeks have been a bit of a blur. Here's the "top ten" in no particular order; the good, the bad and the ugly.

~Wonderful week in Michigan celebrating Thanksgiving with family

~Ten days of my son fighting kidney stones, including an all day trip to the ER ($$$)

~Above mentioned son felt better one morning and went hunting, so now I have venison in the freezer and deer head and skin in the garage. Something needs to happen with those--soon!

~First snow of the season. Ugh. I'm SO not a fan of winter

~Winds knocked out power, phone and internet for 14 hours--oil lamps and candlelight for us!

~Moving day into our new "church" building. First services there tomorrow. I won't be there.

~Been sick and coughing for a week. Hit the wall today. Doctor's on Monday. Sad face.

~Got the tree up. LOVE my fake tree :) Hoping it will generate some Christmas spirit.

~Got my Pioneer Woman cookbook. LOVE it. Will cook up a storm when I feel better.

~Realized today it's only 9 more sleeps until the days start getting longer. YEAH!