Pre-Christmas Activities

I just wanted to share with everyone how much I've enjoyed the holiday season so far.

I first of all am very calm now that all presents are wrapped and under the tree plus under the piano due to not much room left. Don't know what the rest of you are going to do, but I'm first and have already claimed the space.

Charley and I went to Bell Square to shop and enjoyed Snowflake Lane. I love the loud Christmas songs and especially all the dressed up characters. The snow princesses' dresses are so pretty. I just imagine how much Morgan and Taylor would have loved this event as little girls. This was confirmed by watching all the little kids with candy cane slobber running down their chins.

Mike and Jimmy's party once again, was a blast. I took home my own tree ornament because I loved it and the only other one I really wanted was Taylor and Dave's and they picked theirs!

Tonight I'm going to a holiday party and just made up the most yummy looking appetizer ever and can hardly wait to try it. Hopefully it will taste as good as it looks.

Friday off with a different group of friends for lunch at the Met which is so fabulous and then shopping, looking at lights and just plain holiday joy in Seattle!

Also, must not forget my non-stop Christmas songs thanks to my friend Pandora.

Well there you have it. My favorite holiday and it would now just be perfect if I could have another snow flurry.

Thanksgiving

What a great Thanksgiving holiday we all had...again!

I have an empty house right now as well as refrigerator as Sheri left yesterday, Morgan and Tyler fly back from the tri-cities tonight as well as Charley from San Diego. I love that years ago we moved our dinner to the day before and that we don't have to share the day due to other obligations with in-lawsor other family gatherings. What a smart alteration!

So family, again thanks for welcoming our additional guests this year as they seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves, participating in the amazing food and for everyone staying overnight at my home for a couple of days. I love all rooms filled!

Once again we will do this all over again, but a different menu in a few weeks!!!

The Gift That Keeps on Giving

Big thank you to Mom....I still give you credit for giving me the special snow fall we are having.

Hugs always for every flake! You're the best and know what makes my heart sing!

Love, Lori

Hodge Podge

You know what one of the best things is....enjoying someones company completely.

I had the most amazing four days with my sister. We all have these trips and are with each other one on one and they are 99% of the time wonderful. I always marvel at the end of a day with one of my girls or my sister and how much I truly enjoy it and why??? Its always fabulous!

I have as a tradition, just for my self, start listening to Christmas music the day after Thanksgiving. Many of you, okay, all of you can't stand this, but it's mine! I do not change the music station until after Christmas Day. Well, I guess others start listening before I do because they have already started playing the tunes I adore! But, even I will stick to my rule of not until Thanksgiving to belt out Oh Holy Night.

Planning our Thanksgiving feast and all the company that will be with us this year, makes me smile! I love, love, love having my house full. Thank goodness I have four bedroom and will fill every one of them! and this year I guess I will need extra beds...what joy for me!

Medical update: My foot. As some of you know, I was breaking in a new pair of shoes for work this summer and kept wearing them and wearing them. They are the same brand, same design, same color everything that I've used the past 10years...Franko Sarto Bocca so I didn't give up stretching the leather. Bad idea. I still have pain in my right foot from the summer. The real kicker was last month in New Orleans and I was really uncomfortable walking the distances that Charley and I do on our trips. Hence, the purchase of really ugly NB shoes just to get by.

I went to the doctor this week and apparently I did some nerve damage and have to go to a specialist to have an "injection" in the top of my foot to let the nerves heal correctly etc. Hopefully, I won't shout out my sisters famous words when she had her shot! All in the name of cute shoes.

Okay, I'm done!

Tee-Hee

I'm done....can you guess what I'm done with???

This year I had so much fun and want to continue to make more of this product. Perhaps I will extend my gift to "special" friends.

:)

Silly Dad

This afternoon I had lunch with my Dad before he heads south for the winter.

Charley and I had dinner over at Dad and Jackies house on Friday night. We played Poking Peg or whatever the game is called, until midnight. What fun we had. Jackie and I won as we did the last time we got together to play. This is hard for the "guys" to let rest....a rematch is set for this Friday night again if they are packed and ready to hit the road.

Lunch was an event of almost three hours and a carafe of wine and a half. Too much! The stories were wonderful as Dad ventured back to when he was a little boy of about 14 yrs old. One of the best stories was that he took Uncle Paul's gun, since Paul was in the service then as he is 7 yrs older and walked about 4 miles to Granny Grandma and Iris' house. Granny had been complaining about how the birds were eating a bite of each cherry and moving on to the next one. They had about 10 trees. Well Dad was very proud that he shot about 20 or so robins and wanted to show Granny...she apparently was very pleased with his work and to show her gratitude made him a robin pot pie! He said she skinned each robin and made a very small individual pie with potatoes and carrots. Said is was yummy! Can you imagine how much meat was from a little robin?

This story didn't surprise me because I explained to him when Sheri and I would stay at Grandma Nugents house in the summer, one afternoon each time we would walk down Maple Way to Granny's and have lunch. Of course, we were given very clear instructions to have the best manners and each ALL the food that was served to us.

Anyway, we had a great time talking and laughing and hopefully I skunk him again at the game Friday!

Tolstoy

Okay troops....here is the next movie everyone must watch, unless you have already. The Last Station.

All of us have the picture of Tolstoy pop up on our Kindles, well this enticed me to search a bit for a movie about his life...this is the next request one must make on Netflix. It's about the last part of his life. So very, very good. Interesting story and great actors and acting. The scenery is amazing.

Get a sweet treat or a savory one, turn up the heat, get a cat and a blanket and indulge.

Put this movie on your list to see asap!

New Orleans is Back

Back home from another great trip.

Just like Morgan and Tyler's flights...our flights couldn't have been easier. We broke all the rules yesterday by flying on a Friday afternoon and a holiday weekend. But all turned out.

New Orleans is back on its feet. We staying right on Bourbon Street with the craziness going on until about 3pm. Journey is still playing on every street corner with jello shots being sold on the curbs in any flavor. Where was my Jimmy??? We split time with Journey and some great jazz music which is Charley's favorite.

A trip to Cafe du Monde twice, ferry ride to the other side of the Mississippi River, my first soft shelled crab, more oysters this last week than I've had all year, shrimp that was so sweet and fresh that you could have had them for dessert...oh the food!

The highlight for this trip for me was our cooking class. The New Orleans School of Cooking has 2 1/2hr classes everyday. What a treat..The chef was so funny. Large man 6'9" 400lbs and used to play pro football. what a character....we all watched him make and explain the food, spices, techniques and then eat all that he made. We started off with cream of artichoke and shrimp soup then, crawfish etouffee, bread pudding and pralines. Everything was to die for...guess what we'll be having for Sunday dinner tomorrow family!

We walked around looking for a certain restaurant, only finding it after a couple of tries that it wasn't opened...but walking and taking the street car there we saw some of the devastation still in New Orleans. Houses that aren't repaired if they ever will....houses that had holes punched in the roof which I suppose was to let people get out and on top of the roof to be rescued. But still a lot of new construction is in progress.

This trip confirmed that another P4 trip should be organized and played out in the future.

Atlas Shrugged

I just finished Atlas Shrugged.

Last night about 11pm, I made the best decision. Stop reading and save the last 2% of my book to savor with a clearer head, cup of coffee and a cat on my lap. Make a perfect setting for a perfect book. This is great writing in every shape and form. What a great read.

I agree with my sissy, who suggested this book....up on the fav five list.

Now to decide what's next to download and read! I sure love my Kindle! Ladies, how are we going to take care of our tradition at Christmas with getting each other a book now that we all have a reading devise? Any ideas?

:) :) This is What I Call Success

Some things you just don't get over....being proud of your children.

Taylor just received a job offer, and of course who wouldn't want her in their own work environment. She is fantastic and everyone knows it. So light hearted and makes everyone smile besides very good at what she does. Its very difficult these days to be hired and maintain a position, but Tay has shined again.

Morgan (Maggie called me this afternoon) that her picture is in the Seattle Times for "On the Move"...business section due to her moving to her new law firm...again in this trying world of employment, she had job choices once she decided to move.

Its one thing when your kids are still in school and pics in the local newspaper or wherever, but as adults and when its regarding the profession they have worked for so hard and are obviously successful...this still makes me smile.

You know who would have loved it the most.....Grandma Mary!

Lori Emmerton aka Boo Radley

So all of you know the darling little girls next door....Ava, Kalanie and Lahlua.

These girls run to me when I get home as if I was a family member and so happy to talk about their day, see if there are any blueberries to pick or especially, pet Georgia. You couldn't ask for better neighbors.

Well the girls have been lining up small rocks on the bulkhead ledge we share by our driveways. I asked them one time what they were building, and they just shrugged and said "nothing, just like lining them up." So what I've done, is place under about half of these rocks and pebbles....money! Just pennies on up to quarters. I know they will be so surprised and I hope that they will start running to look for treasures periodically. How fun will it be to have a McD's coupon under a rock!

I feel like Boo Radley....and loving it.

Pickles and Peaches and Salsa...Oh My!

You can sure tell in my house when the end of summer is approaching.

I have pickles on the brewing on the counter and peach juice all over. Time to freeze pies for the winter and get enough of Grandma's pickles made to supply my family for the next year! Next project, is salsa. Soon. I have to schedule this with Tyler, as he's the one who wanted to make it and thus encouraged the area in my garden for the tomatoes, peppers and onions!

This will be a good productive fall.

9 Day Sweets

Last year I had a pickling buddy, this year I don't.

Little Pig

Okay...so everyone knows I don't watch much TV and I certainly can't stand just having the TV on for noise. Well, I love the new Geico commercial and laugh every time, that I leave the TV on so I can come running to watch once I hear the squealing.

The little pig that cries "wee, wee, wee all the way home". I can't get enough of it.

I feel like the cats when their food drops. They bullet to the laundry room...I bullet to the family room.

Please everyone, you have got to go on-line to see this commercial.

Margarita In A Bag

You know when you find a new wonderful item at Trader Joes or Costco for example, and you feel the need to share the great find...well here is my new discovery: Margarita In A Bag.

Charley and I were at a party for the 4th of July that served them. They were great but I thought not much again of them. Then a couple of weeks ago, again I was at a function and they served them. Okay. Now I need the details.

Fred Meyer. They are so handy to fix. The bag is $5.99 and you fill it with tequila, triple sec and water. Freeze and since the alcohol won't let it freeze solid, it is a slushy treat for at least 10-12 servings.

Cheryl and the kids are over at Sun Lakes this week for the adoption agency annual camping trip. It is 96* and she just called to thank me for sharing the new find. She went to FM two days ago and stocked up and is having her "grown-up" drink!

So migrate your way to FM and ask where they are kept, because a bit hard to find. You too, will be thanking me. ....and girls, you'll find them in the freezer in the garage next to a turkey!

Blueberries

Are you smarter than a robin? or can you just hack into a Facebook account?

I ask this to everyone, because apparently I'm not. I love watching the birds. I have two birdbaths in my perennial gardens in the front and really enjoy seeing how much they enjoy fresh water and knowing that I'll always have it available. A good bath, a little drink...lovely, except the crows who enjoy leaving chicken bones, not so pretty and they don't look good with the poppies.

Since I planted my new berry garden in the back, I put netting over the raspberries so that the birds wouldn't bother them. Well I had extra netting and thought I'd put it over my blueberries, which I baby every single plant and berry. The crop this year is great. I'd see how many green ones I have on the limbs and anxiously wait the turning of green, pink, blue to purple....time to pick and make something delicious! The darling little girls next door do come over when I'm home and we pick a few berries and they love it as much as I do. But what is happening??? Where are all the berries going? Let me tell you. The monsters that I have been treating with fresh water have not been detoured by the netting to get to my berries because they are posting themselves on stakes that I keep to make the plants straight - okay now I have pulled those out of the ground. So then I see them, mind you 4-6 birds at a time, on the ground and hopping like frogs to get under the plant and snap a berry whatever color it is and pull it off! One big gulp and gone!

These guys were my friends, but I don't share my precious berries with anyone other than family. The birds have taken so many of the berries that I will now go to the farmers market and purchase some to freeze. What a pity.

Bad Funk

I'm in a funk.

Help me out ladies. During the past week or so, I've had some conversations, views on Facebook, outings with family members (outside of our Power of 4) that have not been very nice. They aren't good for me and don't make me feel good inside. I'm not sure how much is intentional, but it sure seems like it is once you look at all the facts, players and situations.

The only way I know how to get rid of this heaviness is cut off the source.

I like my life very lighthearted and giving without any drama or mean spirited involvement and lately it feels like that has been altered.

I guess my immediate solution is go out and work in the garden.

Great Movie

Okay everyone....I just finished an amazing movie called A Woman in Berlin. It is sub titled so you have to have time to read as well as watch. I love watching foreign films and don't mind that they are sub-titled. This one was very easy to enjoy the movie and read. No so many sentences at one time and slowly done.

Very nice. Please take the time and let me know how you like it.

My garden

You all know how much I love my gardens....my flowers in the front are beautiful and I love that I can bring them into the house and enjoy them. The sterling silver roses are smelling up the kitchen right now.

Well....let me now talk about my veggie garden! This last spring I expanded the garden and brought in new dirt. What an amazing difference this has made. I baby every item in there. I have one fig, lots and lots of zucchini and the plant itself if so beautiful and the biggest thing ever. The blossoms are gorgeous. We will be having lots of green beans and Tyler look out because I already have peppers from the "Salsa" section and we will be making that this fall.

Let me talk about my new berry section....this morning Charley is going to work on my house and so I went out about 7am and picked raspberries and blueberries and now I have fresh muffins cooling! I love getting product out of the much loved and cared for veggie garden.

Yesterday I talked to Dad about expanding the veggie garden even more next year...I guess this is when you can say "the fruit didn't fall far from the tree"...does it apply to me with Dad?


All in all, I'm starting my day with a big smile full of berry seeds!

Lunch

Today I'm meeting with dad, Denny and Uncle Paul for lunch.

I am looking forward to it and to listen to stories that I know once the conversation gets going, it won't be able to stop. Dad and Uncle Paul can reminisce as much as they want without any "outsiders" opinions and nonsense talk....(you all know who I mean and they will be absent).

I remember Uncle Paul as being very funny and joking around a lot. A bit like Grandpa Nugent. I hope that my memory is accurate and I'm not just assuming this due to the fact that he looks so much like Grandpa Nugent.

So in a couple of hours, the three of us will trek up to Everett in the fog and me with welcome treats for Aunt Mary Helen of 9 Day Sweets and banana/blueberry muffins.

Dirty Hands

garden is planted
berries in every corner
future pie and jam

Home

Iguazu Falls trip
iris and poppy blosoms
my lap of black cat

this is fun....

Grammy and Grad Party

So today I will post twice. Hopefully this will make up a bit for my very long absence.

I usually don't remember my dreams very often or any detail. Whatever, I 'm sure Taylor can give me an educated analysis about this but, I woke up this morning and remembered I had a dream with Grammy in it.

We we're having Taylor's graduation party and she was there. It wasn't like other parties, but that she'd been gone for awhile and came back for this event. I don't remember if there was any explanation of her absence, but we were all so happy to have her come to the party and everything was normal. We all had such a great time...Grandpa was there as well....sorry I don't remember if Crackie was present. But that could have added to the dream to be categorized as GREAT!

I guess I won't post twice. I'll just add an addition regarding Taylor's party.

It's coming along great. I love the "theme" mini bar items...sliders, mini reubens, mini mac/cheese, mini taco, cupcakes, sausage rolls, cookies w/fruit and the about to be famous "Taylortini" cocktail. Cute....the 80's candy I ordered to scatter around the food arrived today. Adorable and I had the first RSVP today....Dixie and John and very excited to see everyone!

Dumb-Dumb

So do you remember when we lived in LB and my most embarrassing repairman call was to the garage door company?...Well, let me remind you. The garage door wouldn't open and the reason was because I was pushing the wrong button on the opener.

Today, I have just tied or exceeded the embarrassing call. A couple of weeks ago my furnace stopped working. Called the furnace company that fills my oil tank and does the maintenance on the furnace. Woody came out and fixed it and it was a legitimate problem that needed fixing. Great guy. He knows the garage code to come in on his own. Knows not to let the cats out etc. This morning the furnace again wasn't working. I called them back and requested Woody because he was just out here and hopefully, whatever the problem is it will be still covered from the last bill.

Woody was here for all of 5minutes....it was the batteries in the thermostat! Bless his heart, he said he'd tell the company he works for that it was a loose wire or something. What a guy!

I've been sitting outside on Mom's swing with a blanket in the sun. Its warmer this way than in the house, but not now...the furnace is back to running again and surprisingly the thermostat numbers and other information are so much brighter. Sort of like the difference when the printer is running out of ink and then putting in new cartridges...very bright!

Great way to have a precious day off activity.

New puppy or am I mistaken...its Abner!

Now that I'm back from vacation and had a couple of days before returning to work. I had a great idea to take Abner, the big boy, in to be well groomed or shaved, whatever as he has such a thick undercoat and doesn't like me to brush him.

Bet he now wishes he would have cooperated more with me. He now looks like an Italian Greyhound...more specific, he looks like Zach and about the same size.

He is shaved except for his front legs, tail and head. What a funny looking guy. He keeps throwing himself on the ground and then gets back up. Is this because it feels like to him that he's falling a mile since there isn't any hair to land on? I can only think it must be like sitting on the toilet with the seat left up.

He certainly has his summer cut, or like Tyler's cut. You all must come over and see this guy before too much grows back. Funny thing is, he still looks big, but not at the moment as cocky...Chloe has been giving him lots of potty mouth hissing.

Red or White?

With my new status at UAL and the motivation to do something additional in the work world...last night I took a class and received a certificate good for five years to be able to serve wine, beer or even real cocktails in a bar. In a couple of weeks, I take my food serving class.

It almost seems like a dream job area for me. Serving people and making sure they are happy with what I can give them. It would be like one of my parties at home.

"Would you like red or white wine? Or how about a bacon wrapped date, stuffed with blue cheese?" I looked very briefly on Craigslist and here is my example of great fun. Benaroya Hall has an event and looking for people to help during intermission etc to serve. They gave about seven dates to be available. Now that is exactly what I want! No big commitment, pocket money and listening or getting a glimpse of the event. Yes, I'll wear black and white. Another spot of interest....Woodinville winery row. They have people set up for the tasting rooms...now I'm qualified to legally do this. So when will Airfield have their facility set up? I could be on the "on call" list! Or how about, when we volunteered for the YMCA fundraisers...those where caterers hired to dish up etc. The best part of all of this - is I again could be paid to talk just as I do now and love.

This really could be exciting.

Apple Peach French Toast!

Let me tell you how very, very excited I am about my trip this week.

Going to Fredricksburg VA....being with Charley's family, dinner for his nieces birthday...all good and it will be fun and interesting seeing the Washington DC area. Always great, but...from there we are driving down to Wilmington NC which takes about 5 hours. Basically from Seattle to Spokane. Last time I did a driving trip in that area (sort of) was with Sheri and Mom. We had a lovely time and I remember the country being to different and interesting. Of course, this time, it is winter and it won't be as green.

I got the pleasure of picking out where to stay. I didn't want your basic hotel even though was Charley's first thought. Stay at the Hilton on the beach where he's stayed before. Nope, but thanks. We can drive the 15 minutes to take a walk on the Atlantic beach. I picked the cutest B&B ever. You have to look at it www.Rosehill.com. We are staying in the Wedgewood which according to my new friend Bob, the biggest and quietest room. Can hardly wait....and the menu, I'm already eager to eat good southern food. Its very close to the Cape Fear River and I'll stroll there in the evenings.

Seeing the Greek Aunties is going to be a blast. You all would really enjoy them....so cute. We'll be eating lots of Greek food as well....do all trips need to be centered around the yummy food? Well, yes.

Doesn't this sound like the best! Thanks to all who have helped with pet sitting for this trip possible. As usual, I'll keep in contact via e-mail, blogs and of course phone. Hugs, Hugs, Hugs.

Read, Read, Read

Last night I just finished the last of my Christmas books....The Help, Dear John, and Whistlin' Dixie - Nor' Easter. All are fabulous and I am willing to share if anyone wants a new read.

Thanks family for knowing my taste in books...you've given me hours of enjoyment!

This Time Last Year

I'm feeling very sorry for myself today. Laying on the couch, taking cold tablets and sneezing every now and then. Not fare, I had a cold not two months ago and don't deserve it again yet!

But, having this time by myself, lets my mind wonder to this time last year. We were reading out loud from Danielle Steel's "Coming Out". Laughing, talking and crying as we watched Grammy in her hospital bed. Rotating the book so there wouldn't be any quite space. Leaving to give updates to my sister and brother, while waiting for Denny and his family to get here. Dave, Charley and Tyler have just left to get back home so that they don't have to drive too late over the pass. My daughters and myself in the only hospital room without whispers as we continue to read and chuckle.

I took Mom with me to work on Sunday and I'll have her travel with me tomorrow as well. Its so nice to take her on field trips.

Maybe tomorrow, I'll finally be able to go through her boxes? We'll see.

Foreign Film Phase

I just watched an amazing movie last night. So put it on your list to order or go pick up at the video store.

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. French foreign film. It is so good. Also I recently watched another foreign film...again so good...The Red Violin. As long as you don't mind ready the sub-titles. Very enjoyable.

Let me know after you ALL have taken the time to watch these how much you loved them.

Precious...would you smell the moose?

So yesterday I'm working in the Red Carpet Club and this very nice looking woman about 35 or so, nicely dressed, pretty hair...basically a put together gal, comes up to me and asked me if I would "smell her". What????

I'm sure the look of panic and confusion was all over my face. She apologized quickly and explained that she was taking some sort of herbal medical treatment and the doctor? or whatever said with this treatment might have a side effect was that she could radiate a smell of some sort..garlic whatever. So she fluffs her hair, spins around and holds up her arms for me to smell. Nothing. I told her I smell her shampoo, but she doesn't smell bad to me. She's worried her seat partner on the airplane will be offended. Apparently she also asked the hotel and the taxi driver the same question and they both said yes that they wondered what that smell was! Something like bad garlic, fish etc. Well I smelled nothing and reassured her...because what's she going to do about it at this time.

Does this remind you of smelling the "moose"?

Book Pantry

I have been in a big, big, big reading frenzy since Christmas.

I just finished South of Broad....Pat Conroy. Very good! I love they way he describes the south and southern food. Makes me crave a southern twange. Just now I have finished one of my Christmas books (again about the south) Whistlin' Dixie in a Nor'easter (Morgan's pick). Very cute and quick read.

Now back to my pantry to select the next one! I guess I'm glad that Amazing Race and Grey's hasn't started up again ..now I can read every night.

Belated Christmas Gift

So tonight about 6pm the doorbell rings...do I answer it, nope. I'm done for the day and so like a big girl, I go out to the garage to sneak a peak at who it at the door or leaving the yard. Just some young guy, so obviously good idea to not answer.

Well now its about 7:30pm and I just remembered the doorbell ring and thought I best make sure something wasn't left on the door. Well he left a flyer for new windows, but on the front porch was a package left by FedEx.

Nothing like a good cry before bed. It was from Aunt Nancy and a very nice card with pictures from the lunch we had in Cle Elum in October. Also was a box that she had a note written on the outside with "ML Christmas 2009". She said in her card that she had purchased this item for Mom last year for this years Christmas and thought I would enjoy it. Tacky as heck, but I will certainly put it next to the homemade Christmas Santa Claus Mom made when I was a little girl. This new snowman who is holding an antique (replica) candle will be perfect together.

I wrote a big thank you about how really special this gift is to me and how we made Mom a part of our Christmas on the diningroom table. It reallywas quite beautiful with all the reds in the roses, picture and of course, Mom in glass.