Angels on the Christmas tree

I should have answered more questions!

Whoa! Now THAT is a surprise. Be wary, I guess!

What Classic Movie Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

Quiz snagged from Kwizgiver.

Word Game

This site has a nifty little word-a-day game. Could be addictive.

Unconscious Mutterings

I say ... and you think ... ?

Memorable :: Occasion
Resolution :: I need more willpower before I touch a resolution
Goal :: I might come up with a couple of goals for the new year
2008 :: The best is yet to be
Sensational :: Fantastic!
Popular demand :: Back by
Old :: New
Music :: soothes the savage beast
Intense :: Focused
2007 :: another good year

Your Favorite Tree Stories

I had a leeettttle problem with my tree this year. What is your favorite tree story from your past? Come on, I betcha got a good tale or two?!

Awww...thug with a heart

Awww...thug with a heart
Originally uploaded by wash52121

A truth. I missed getting back to the blog until now. For all of you celebrating the holiday, I hope it was magical and full of love. For those of you not celebrating, I hope your day had love in it also.

Whee!

Well, the snow from last weekend is ALL gone!!! Oh there are bits and pieces where it was plowed, or where it is in shade, but we are back to green. This is typical for mid-Michigan.

We have a huge south-west wind blowing today. Winds always agitate my girl cat. She's out on the porch. Then she wants to come in. Then she races around the house, literally climbing the walls in a couple of places.

I've been a little under-the-weather lately (typical for the holiday season, grrr). Doing better today.

And how are you?

Unconscious Mutterings

I say ... and you think ... ?

Health :: a good thing if you have it
Tacky :: Most of the presents I get for people! either tacky or . . . cheesy!
Heels :: High
Yay! :: Cheer
Model :: Airplane
Gather :: Together on Christmas Day
Best gift ever :: A toy spinning wheel
Clients :: Customers
Stomp :: A dance?
Clothing :: Need a lot this time of year

City Hall

Happy Holidays from my town to yours!

Whew! It's Wednesday

Woke up thinking it was Thursday. I am soooo happy that it is only Wednesday. Happy Hump Day!

Merry Christmas from Marlene

She's about 70 years old, and slated for a visit to the doll hospital in 2008.

A Little Bit of Snow Yesterday

Unconscious Mutterings

I say ... and you think ... ?

Interview:: New job
Army :: Air Force
Unwrap :: Presents
Evolve :: Entropy
Bus :: Stop
The real thing :: What is real? What is perception? What is?
Streak :: Run naked through the park
Gorge :: Canyon
Spicy :: Meatballs
Course :: Class

We're All This Way at Christmas, I think!

Your Holiday Personality is Caring

You like to reach out to people all year long, but you're especially giving during the holidays. Make those you love homemade presents (like cookies or scarves). Call someone who might be feeling a little down. Give to your favorite charity.

How Should You Spend the Holidays?

From the 2004 Archives . . . same result!

Your Christmas is Most Like: A Charlie Brown Christmas

Each year, you really get into the spirit of Christmas. Which is much more important to you than nifty presents.

What Movie Is Your Christmas Most Like?

Christmas around the World

Click through for the links to the flickr photographers.

12 Days of Christmas

Check out Rebekka's here.

Technorati

Do you use technorati?

Technorati Profile

A new Tradition?

Seventeen years ago Mom had us plant Christmas trees out at the farm. They grew like Topsy, without much supervision. We're harvesting the giants little by little, and plans are underway to add new trees next spring.

Picture is of my niece and husband, with their baby's first Christmas tree!

Sunrise - Sunset

Tables can be found here.

Unconscious Mutterings

I say ... and you think ... ?

Master:: and Commander
Tour :: Europe
Input :: Output
Downtown :: Uptown, Old Town, REO Town
Pricey :: Expensive
Acceptable :: Okay
Terrace :: Patio
Sunday :: Today is!
Payoff :: Winnings
Jack and Jill :: Went up that hill!

Oh the Weather Outside is Frightful

While it still, technically, is fall, we've been experiencing very winter-like conditions. We haven't been able to get above freezing for five or six days now. Tomorrow we may have warmer temperatures, but the forecast also calls for snow, rain, AND sleet. The joys of living in Michigan!

Snowglobes

I love snowglobes. I have several. Roscoe found a really special one here.

Contact with the Amish

The next township southwest of me has a large group of Amish. I enjoy driving through the countryside, seeing their simpler processes for farming. Many of the roads in that township are dirt, which is good for horse-farming.

A couple of weeks ago I saw a sign that pointed to an Amish Gift Shop. I had to stop. I only looked that day, but came back this morning for some purchases, including a child-size rocker for the great-nephew and niece to use. The store is interesting. They do have a phone, as they need a line to do bankcard transactions. The lighting is via skylights. Many of the "gift" items are not made locally, and some are not even Amish-made. The pricing is extremely fair. Mark-ups must be much different in their culture.

Hat sizes for men appeared to stop at about 7 3/8. I wonder if large-headed men can special order the dark dress hats? There was an aisle of material for clothes-making, all plain colors with a lot of black. There were some hand-made baby items on consignment in that area, all adornment free, and nursing blankets that were very interesting looking.

The mother-daughter duo who waited on me were very cordial. I asked a few questions about the Amish and their Christmas customs (they do celebrate with gift-giving and a few simple decorations, no trees) and the mom was kind about answering them.

Cultures meet with commerce.

Perfect New Business in Town

Saturday I went to Old Town to shoot pictures of the "Dickens" Christmas. I also had another objective in mind: checking out Perspectives2, a photography studio site where you can rent the studios. I had heard about it from a couple of sources, and wanted to see it for myself. They are very friendly, took visitors for a tour, and the upshot is that I signed up for six months and attended a class on Monday night on how to digitally take pictures of old pictures. Two most helpful hints: 1) place old photograph on black surface (black velvet works best); 2) for shooting negatives, process in Photoshop and hit inverse. Magic. The instructor was pushing Picasa also as a great free tool.

Good Saturday Morning!

I've missed you! I'm in the middle of big projects at work: a mass mailing, complete physical inventory with adjustments to all trucks and warehouses, prep for end of year, all that good stuff! Long hours, lots of time looking at a computer screen, so when I get home, I tend to . . . crash! I've been peeking at everyone, but not having much time to comment or play. I'll try to catch up some this weekend!

Are we in the Christmas spirit yet???

But I LIKE Socks!

You Are Socks!

Cozy and warm... but easily lost. You make a good puppet.

What Crappy Christmas Gift Are You?

Snowball Fight

One of the great things about snow is . . . snowball fights. They can be memorable. Here you can play, no matter what your season. You will need shockwave.

Puzzle time

If you have a few minutes.

Christmas Carol in Old Town

Old Town is the oldest section of Lansing. It's a resurgent area, recently winning IKEA's small business contest. It's the home of many small shops and galleries. Saturday they staged a Victorian Christmas. One never knew who one might meet coming down the street.



Click through for links to individual pictures.

A Flickr Artist

The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is a special area. Flickr Artist Kim Foos captures it well here.

Unconscious Mutterings

I say ... and you think ... ?

Music :: soothes the savage beast, soul
Insanity :: Nuts
Curtain :: Stage
Nickname :: Shirts
Container :: Package
Roast :: Turkey, Beef
Thong :: a very complex word
Purple :: Royal
Holidays :: Easter, Christmas, Thanksgiving
Christmas tree :: Gonna be another fresh cut one this year

Happy December!

And tear another page from the calendar . . .

I was sick Wednesday early morning (2ish, wouldn't you know), so I called in at 7:00 and said I would be in at noon. I crawled back into bed for some quality sleep. Shortly I heard voices. Real voices. Outside my bedroom window. Huh?

Then I remembered. The split tree on the north side of the house was coming down. Mom had wanted to remove it when I first moved in. "It's picturesque," I argued. But it was also dying, and threatened not only the laundry room roof but the maple tree and the magnolia bush that Hann once told me she wanted to get married beneath. Well, geez, that wouldn't do.

Pictures make it easier to say good-bye.



However, tree removal meant bye-bye to any power restorative sleeping! Oh well.