The wise, old Astro, left moves in gently to welcome baby Levi, while Gus, a.k.a. "Bat Ears," stands back

The Introduction of Levi

Levi, a pure bred black Labrador Retriever was born into the family of good friends on December 17th, 2010.  His mom is a 6-year-old black beauty named Lucy and this was her first and last litter of 11 pups.  Levi was a christmas gift to my husband and I, as we had lost our beloved Labrador, Sam, last Thanksgiving when a  kid in our neighborhood (where the speed limit is posted at 15 miles per hour) hit and mortally wounded Sam, who weighed in at around 100 lbs.  We were terribly saddened by our loss, and miss the gentle giant of our hearts to this very day. 

In 22 years, my husband, Dave (who took this photo), and I have known the kind of love Labs and dogs of labrador extraction have brought to our home,  and are sure this kind of dog will always be welcome,  as they are truly loving and devoted. 

We were blessed with the new pup as a generous Christmas gift from our good friends, the Dellingers.

So . . . Let's heare a BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE for our new puppy, LEVI!!!! We love ya little dude!

The Foot Warmer Position

Has Been Filled ...Others Need Not Apply



Tooties are toasty  thanks to Gus

Nothing beats a warm-hearted pup to knock the chill off your toes and feet!   Our young

man, Gus, struck a pose one cold morning while the hubby and I prepared for work.  He's a

lively thing and is always under foot . . . or over feet (literally, and figuratively)!  He's a great bed warmer, too.  Often, he burrows under the covers to nestle in the crook of my knees as I drift off to sleep.  He's the guardian of my dreams!





Christmas 2010 Has Flown By!



Just a "smidge" of the holiday booty

And . . . at last I bid the Christmas season of  2010 adieu! All the appetizers have been eaten, every supper that could be supped has been, all the gatherings and parties and tinsels and bells - done and gone.

Every year seems to have a gift giving theme.  For, all who know me either know me well or ... well, they don't know me. 

This year was the year of the bag.  I received a variety of cosmetic bags, tote bags, a hand bag and even a fancy table hook on which to hang my hand bag, but I think my hand bag might be altogether too hefty for it to be supported by a mere hook.  (An industrial crane might do the trick better!)

I now have more neck scarves and gloves and, judging by the looks of it, I may need them in the oncoming winter days.  BUT, my lips won't be chapped because it was also the year of lip balms so my kisser will be smooth. 

I've got pedicure implements and skin creams, long underwear and fleece pajamas.  I got treated to lunch and dinner a few times by my compadres.  I have books of inspiration and refrigerator magnets.  And, just so I can keep up with my own bad self in 2011, three new calendars, too!

And, by chance I get snowed in again I'll have a wonderful 500-piece puzzle  depicting my favorite birds to put together (I'm not real good at it ... uh, it might carry me through the summer, actually).

And . . . last but certainly not least, the hubby and I will have a fresh-off-the-vine black Lab puppy coming in late February.  Our dear friends' hunting Lab had a litter of 11 two weeks before Christmas and, since we lost our beloved chocolate Lab, Sam, last Thanksgiving they are lovingly gifting us with a male black Lab puppy!

That pretty much sums it up.  Oh yeah . . . HECK of a good New Year's Eve party Deb and Robert! A good time was had by all. (Or, in my case, I was also had by a good time - wink, wink.)

Happy New Year everyone!





A White Christmas Arrives

In the Carolina Foothills



Hello Frosty!



Frosting

At 9:15 a.m. on Christmas morning soft, fluffy flakes began to fall and they kept
falling well into the night. It was a special, divine gift to have a white Christmas,
a snow day when we had no choice but to stay home, kick back and relax.
It was a pleasure to watch the cardinals, chickadees and nuthatches flying
in to feast at the bird feeder.  The day was spent frolicking in the snow,
surfing the web, reading books and magazines, watching "Scrooged"
(for the umpteenth time), and playing with an old dog and young pup
by the hearth while the hubby whipped up a batch of his spicy
white bean chicken chili.  

Hubby and Gus playing by the Christmas Tree



'Tis The Season

Photo taken on a bitter cold January day in the community of Dudley Shoals NC

Christmas is barking at my heels like a mad dog.  So many details, so many places to be, so many gifts yet to wrap.  This year has been particularly difficult in an economy that has left those of us in the middle class suburbia strapped to the point of . . . well let's not go into details.  I will say, however, I've grown very fond of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch.

Anyway, here I am in my tiny little home office surrounded by an explosion of wrapping paper, ribbon, bags, etc.  I've been perplexed about what to give my brothers this Christmas.  We'd all agreed not to purchase each other gifts except for the family's two young grandchildren.  Nonetheless, I feel compelled to honor my siblings, as they have been the source of much joy and frivolity over the years.  Not to mention, always being in my corner. 

So . . . I picked out the one photo I've taken this year that is my most favorite (shown above).  I've just printed it out and I'll frame it in inexpensive, yet attractive frames. Christmas simplicity . . . it doesn't get any better than that!  Still, it's nothing compared to the love I've received from these gents over the years.

Oh Christmas Dog

Santa "Paws"

Oh Christmas dog, oh Christmas dog, your nose is bright and shiny.

Oh Christmas dog, oh Christmas dog, so is your hiney.

You light the night so bright and free though I know you’d rather be inside with me.

Oh Christmas dog, oh Christmas dog, please guide me through the rain and fog.

You light the way to my front door which keeps me from tripping up and getting sore.

I plug you in again and again to me you’re man’s best holiday friend.

Oh Christmas dog, oh Christmas dog, you’re so cute to me.

Oh Christmas dog, oh Christmas dog that’s why so I placed you near the dogwood tree!

Season’s greetings everyone.  I don’t normally go in for a lot of outdoor holiday lighting. Some of it can be as tacky as bright red fingernail polish.  But, this year, I found a little lighted 30-inch white dog advertised in a local store flyer and found it so endearing I just couldn’t resist. His red and white Santa hat is offset by a sparkly green neck scarf.  Of course then I had to decorate the picket fence behind the little fella with red and white lights.  Uh, and then I put a Christmas tree lit with red lights up in the window. So, if any of you see me out and about wearing bright red finger nail polish, shoot me …with a water pistol.

In this season that represents new birth and possibilities, I wish you one and all the very best. May your blessings be many, your needs be few and may peace settle gently over you at the end of the day! From my house to yours: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!



Stark November Beauty



High mountain morning frost



Fog rolling in across Mt. Mitchell In late November

I wish I had taken these lovely photos but I owe all the credit to the other photographer
at my house who went for a long weekend camp outing to commune with nature and a
group of friends. 

These photos were taken very near Mount Mitchell where word is it got d--- cold!
But with enough Tequila and adequate stores of firewood, the group made it through
the weekend and were tired but happy upon their return.

Kinks in the Road

You know, sometimes things happen to mess up your week (or weeks, if they are consecutively bumpy) that you have absolutely no control over.  Last week I spent my Veteran's Day off talking to some dude in India, trying to get my internet back up.  Yesterday, again, another four hours was spent with a Charter installation guy who came to install our television, phone and internet service.  'Got the internet - finally - then accidently deleted my Control X application which means, DOH! I don't have internet yet again! I could kick myself. Then, I come to work today on third floor of our old building where they're housing 14 of us during the building's major renovation and the heating/airconditioning units were (allegedly) going to be installed in the windows.  So, natch, the electrical guys cut holes out in two of the windows and then went downstairs to start a different project.  Now we are sitting up here on this dark, dreary day exposed to the cold and and damp because of these stupid holes. Actually, it's raining and we are exposed to the damp air because of that. 

BUT, do I get worked up about this mess??? Why bother . . . Thank God for better living through pharmacology!

Troubleshooting via Earthlink

At some point in time during this past weekend my home connection to Earthlink  gave up the ghost.  This meant no e-mailing, no surfing, no transmitting of written material or photos to FOCUS (free weekly entertainment newspaper).  This was not the first time this internet provider has disappointed me . . .but it was the last time.  I was off  from work for Veterans Day and spent my entire afternoon chatting with some fella in India about troubleshooting this problem of  a lost connection.  His name was Steve.  I really wanted to say, "Ah, come on now Steve - what do your friends call you? Papoo? Devinder? Ram? " I kind of had a problem with the fact that not only has the work been outsourced to India, they probably require their tech people to use strictly English names. And, even though he spoke English, he wasn't speaking well enough for me to understand him most of the time, so I had to keep saying, "Sorry, what was that?"

At any rate, after nearly FOUR hours, Steve concluded the problem had to be with my router.  He connected me with someone who was going to help me with that but, at that moment time, my phone went dead because it needed charging.  Good thing, too - at least it saved me from being a horse's ass! I had reached the point of cursing. 

Ahhh... all things happen for a reason. I am now officially divorced from Earthlink and am looking forward to working with a new provider by the end of the month. Dad-nab technology, it's a blessing and a curse!

Peace. Over and out.

What About Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving has become the forgotten holiday in America.  Halloween candy is barely off the store shelves before the Christmas trees go up and all kinds of Christmas supplies laid out.

It used to be, way back when I came over on the Mayflower, Thanksgiving was a pretty big deal.  My brothers and I would fight over who would get the most amount of turkey with the skin still left on it.  That's because my mom knows how to bake a turkey to ultimate perfection, accompanied by gravy, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, green beans and rolls.  And, of course, we'd also fight over who was going to get to pull the wishbone.

We spent the week after Thanksgiving eating turkey sandwiches and turkey-vegetable soup until every spare part on the bird had been 100 percent utilized.

Things are different these days, and I blame it on commercial hype.  I noticed one of my neighbors has alread put up his outdoor Christmas lights.  Geesh! We haven't even reached the middle of November yet!

Oh well . . . I'm looking forward to packing my lunch with sausage stuffing and turkey gravy.  That's what puts the "gobble, gobble" in T-day!