The tale of a tired appliance shopper

You would never believe how incredibly busy the big city was today! It was like a Saturday afternoon at all the shopping places and the traffic...jeez Louise! Wild. That's all I can say.

Today we were appliance shopping. No, I will rephrase that. Today we were appliance buying. We have been doing the shopping for a few days now and finally made the decision and bought the appliances today. We brought two home one we will pick up next week. So, that means we will be busy tomorrow hooking up the new appliances.
One of the new appliances in a new dishwasher to replace my broken one. (I had it repaired 4 times last year and the last repair was the last repair.) I've been saving up dirty dishes to try out on the new dishwasher. I've got a couple of loads just waiting. Now, if that new little baby will clean these dishes...I'll know I got a good 'un.

We were out all day long and I'm a bone tired. We also went to Costco...my favorite store in all the world. We walked the whole store. We can't help ourselves, we always have to have something there. I did buy a nice Oster convection/toaster oven there. It wasn't for me although I would love to have one. I bought that for my son. (a bachelor) I didn't get him much of anything at all for Christmas and I overheard him say he really wanted a new toaster oven since his had quit.

I bought a lot of appliances today, spent lots of money, and I'm worn out. I'm tired like I said so I think I'll head on over to the poor house and see if they have a bed for me to get a few winks in.
Janeta

Where have I been these past several days you ask. I have been laying up in bed, resting, with the servants serving me fudge and eggnog. You don't believe that? Well, would you believe I've been cooking, baking, shopping, going to Christmas programs and just spending time with my family....well a picture is worth a thousand words. Isn't that what they say? So, here is what I've been doing the past few days...in pictures.

First we went to the "North Pole"

It is a fun, fun, fun place for little kids.

This is Kevin at the "North Pole"

Then we decorated the Christmas tree.

We made lots and lots of Christmas cookies.

We read and re-read Christmas story books.

We participated in and went to Christmas programs.

Pay no attention to the little boy with his hands in his mouth.

He was suppose to be Mary's donkey but l

lost his ears some where along the way.

Then we played Santy Claus and rode
bicycles and ate a whole bunch...too much.

That my friends is what we've been doing these past several days and weeks and month! Oh, we've been having fun. But now that you've found me, I'll spend more time at the blog. Promise.

Janeta

Eight Days Till Christmas

I've really had problems lately with computers. If it isn't one thing it is another. Anyway, here I am on a different computer than usual and it has issues too, so I'm just happy to be here. Although, I can't post any photos and I've taken some cute ones lately. Oh well...

We have bought our tree, got it up in the stand and now we are just letting it fluff. Tomorrow night we will decorate it. Kevin got a little (live) tree for his room. It is on his dresser, decorated and soooo cute. We are going to plant it somewhere in the yard and then pray that it lives!

I live way down in South Texas. I mean if I left in the morning and headed south I could have dinner (lunch) in Mexico. I said that so you will understand why it is so cold to me today. Our high was only 38 and it is getting down into the 20's tonight. It is super cold. Thank God it is a dry cold!

Okay, so now you know why I've not been around much, that I'm still behind schedule and it is cold where I live. 'Nuff said. Besides I know no more to say. It is too cold to stay out here in this cold room. I'm going into the living room where there is warmth!

Janeta

Two Short Weeks

In two short weeks the fat old man in a red suit will be sliding down my chimney. Maybe. If I don't get on the ball soon and start Christmas shopping there may be nothing 'neath our tree! Our ribbons might be as empty as the cute puppy in this picture.

We don't have our Christmas tree up yet. We are buying a real tree this year. I want a Noble Fir. We have not had a real tree in about 5 or 6 years now. It's time. Oh the smell! That is the best part of a real Chrirstmas tree...the smell. Now...if we can only get the tree up before that little old fat man in the red suit slides down the chimney.
Janeta

A Day of Play

I'm going to go play now.

May I come play too?

Here I go.

Up, Up, Up.

Oh, Oh. I made it to the top!

Oh! This is fun! Whewwwwww.
Here I come!
(Notice shoes on wrong feet. )



Please, I wanna play with you! Can I slide too?
Please, Please Please! Oh, just gimme some lovin'


Okay Happy, but just wait one dog gone second, will ya?
I need to give Miss Kitty some lovin' too.

Oh, I give up.

Nobody loves me. Nobody will play with me.

Hey! Hey there Tigger! You wanna play?

Well, time to go! See you later. Mama said I

to put my shoes on the right feet and

come inside and get some shorts on.

She's tired of looking at my underwear.

Come on over an' play.

Happy and I are waiting for you. Miss Kitty too!

IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR

It's that time of year when the word busy doesn't even begin to describe the amount of activity that goes on at our house! The older baby boy gets the busier we will get! Just for starters here is his activity calendar for this last month of '08. (This doesn't even include my personal or my husband's personal activities!)

Dec 4 - Bake cookies
Dec 5 - Make Christmas fudge
Dec 6 - Shoes for St. Nick
Dec 8 - Decorate inside of house
Dec 10-Make the gingerbread train
Dec 11 - Go to North Pole (local attraction for kids, of all ages)
Dec 12 - Put up Christmas tree
Dec 13 - Christmas Parade
Dec 23 - Ride around county look at Christmas lights/decorations
Dec 24 - Santa Claus Comes
Dec 25 - Christmas
Dec 26 - Play all day with new toys, eat candy and other Christmas junk.

Okay, I'm tired now. Time for a nap.

Random Thoughts of Insanity

Today I am going to watch the movie Little Women. Don't know why, but it is a Christmas movie to me and I always kick off my personal Movie Christmas Watching Season with Little Women. Why is it personal? No one else in this house will watch it with me...my husband is NOT into chick flicks. That's what he calls it.

Last week I was sick. Now my sister has the crud. I am trying to talk her into coming and spending a few days with me when she gets to feeling better. She would have fun doing Christmas activities with Kevin (she is Kevin's Grandma.) Yes! my sister is my son's Grandma. Now y'all go figure. I'll explain someday. Maybe.

Today is colder than a well digger (as we say in these parts) Why is it the older I get, the colder I get? I don't really care, I just wanna stay warm. I just sang that to the tune of Cyndi Lauper's 'Girls just wanna have fu-un. I sang it in my mind that is. Better left in the mind! I can't carry a tune.

Kevin only wants Santa to bring one thing for Christmas. He calls it a "Mickey Mouse garage car with upstairs" I haven't found one, whatever it is. He sees it on commercials that run on the kids networks. Any of y'all know where to find them? Target? Sears? Walmart? Toys R Us? Anybody with any clues? Santy Claus where are you? I need your help!!!

I cut out enough holly leaves for Kevin's next craft project to cover the moon this morning or at least my hands feel like I cut out enough holly leaves to cover the moon. Well, maybe not enough to cover the moon. Maybe enough to cover a small town? Don't believe that either? Well, how about enough to cover a room? No? Well how about enough to cover a paper plate to make a Christmas wreath? You buy that? Good.


Last night I got the cutest video of Kevin. He was taking a bath singing "Jingle Bells" and laughing. Now when I figure out how to get the thing downloaded and onto this here blog, I might do that so you can enjoy it too. Cute and funny too.

Janeta

Putting Things Into Perspective

Little did I know what was in store for me that day. Something that would totally change my attitude. Totally change my life. It was the experience of a lifetime. One I thank God for. A true blessing, in disguise. You see I had been complaining just that morning of being sick. Just a cold, but the way I was carrying on you'd of thought I had a case of double pneumonia! Whine, and cry. That was me. Later on in the morning I took a long look at myself and I was actually ashamed of how self centered and selfish I had been, thinking only of myself and how I, me, numero uno felt.

I had no idea what I was in for when I walked into that reception room. She was sitting at a table facing me. Her husband had his back to me standing at the counter where we keep coffee for the customers. So, I walked over to the table first and introduced myself to the wife. She smiled and said hello. Her husband turned around took a step or so in my direction and when I looked him in the face it was everything I could do to not let my jaw drop open or stare! I said a quick hello and then invited them to follow me to my office. He moved quietly around the table and pulled out his wife's chair and what? I couldn't believe my eyes! She had crutches! She could barely stand. And when I invited them to follow me into my office I couldn't help but notice that she walked kind of sideways. She, with the help of her husband, negotiated her way to the office fine. Both of them smiling, like there was no tomorrow!

As this couple smiled at me from the other side of my desk it was all I could do to keep my mind on business. My mind was racing...what happened to them!? It was all I could do to keep from staring at him. Here this young man sat, no arm, the other hand mangled and without a thumb. To look into his face was mind boggling. Most of his nose was missing, ears missing, mouth somewhat disfigured, huge scars all over his face and body, scars everywhere and skin grafts. I couldn't see any hair on his head. Did he have any? I couldn't tell. He wore a cap, that was never removed. Was it a fire? No, I don't think so, I know a man disfigured from fire, the scars were different, somehow. And her...I looked for scars, there were none. Her beautiful face, perfect.

For the millionth umpteen time being a person that is able to focus and stay even was an advantage for this situation. I kept on track, on target and took care of business. Part of that business is getting to know my people, personally, build a relationship. (Often times my building a relationship with people goes far beyond business and folks become life long personal friends. I hope that is the case with this couple.) I spent five hours with this couple. I got to know them well.

I soon discovered they were a smiling sweet couple with a great sense of humor from the deep south. They had four children, all one year apart! (I want to meet those kids!) I discovered they had very important jobs. Protecting old ish here, and you and everybody else here in these great United States of America. Protecting the helpless, keeping freedom ...and no freedom ain't free. These two people were proof of that, they paid the cost.
As their story unfolded it turns out they were both in the hospital daily for treatment---still yet! He for the past couple of years, ever since his Humvee blew up under enemy fire in Iraq. He is infantry. She is an MP. She had just undergone surgery for injuries from overseas and he is going back into surgery next month...again...for the umpteenth time! And these people were smiling! These people were joking! These people are absolutely beautiful, scars and all! To know they have worked hard, endured pain and hell, have been totally selfless, loved their children and provided a good home for them in the face of all they do and have done each day... PRICELESS. They are absolutely, positively, beautiful people. HERO'S. Yes, true American hero's. I hope you have the blessing and privilege that I had this past week end and get to shake hands with a hero, look into their eyes and say a genuine THANK YOU, God Bless you. And you know, saying thank you is nothing. But it meant a lot to them, I could tell. It left the young man with misty eyes and she with a huge warm smile and dancing eyes! I look forward to the next time we meet!

Oh, I wasn't sick anymore that day...When things got put into the perspective...I wasn't sick at all. Whine, cry? After that, I had nothing to whine and cry about.
Janeta

Since I live quite a way from town today is my last day to go pick up those last minute items I need to prepare the Thanksgiving Feast. I don't need to pick up much, but what I do need to pick up at the store are very important items! I just hope I don't forget anything. Have I mentioned just how forgetful I am? Now what was I talking about? ....oh yeah, the Thanksgiving Feast.

Our daughter and her family aren't going to be here to enjoy our feast with us. They have decided for the first time to have Thanksgiving at home with just their family. That will be nice. They have hosted Thanksgiving at their house many a year. They have just never had it alone. And you know, it is good for a family unit to sometimes just spend that time with themselves. They are coming by later in the afternoon for a visit. I'm looking forward to that.

You won't get upset if I tell you a secret, will ya? Promise? Okay...then I'll tell you a secret. We are not having Turkey at our house for the feast this year. We are having ham instead. Shoot, we aren't even having pumpkin pie! We're having apple and pecan only. I hope you're not upset and I guess it isn't a secret anymore.

Well, since I've got some baking to do and preparations for that eventful Turkey Day, oh sorry, I mean Ham Day...well let's just call it as it is; Thanksgiving...I 'd better get busy! And while I'm at it I'll start counting my blessings. I've got a long list to be thankful for so I'm going to start giving God thanks now. And since I probably won't be around until AFTER Thursday I'll just say it now....HAPPY THANKSGIVING.
Janeta

Smack Dab In The Middle

Have you ever been hit right square dab in the middle of the face with something? If you have then you know how I feel. That is what has happened to me this week. It hit me right smack in the middle of the eyes...Thanksgiving is next week! Christmas is around the corner! This is my niece and nephew Christmas, 1968

Cutie pies, huh?

I guess I can scrap some of the projects that I actually wanted to do this year. Just no time! Well, there is time, but not enough for me to get anything started and finished before the big day.

You see, I took a job outside the home in September. This is the first time since I retired six years ago that I worked outside the home office. That throws a monkey wrench into any leisure time. (I do most of my blog work in the wee hours.) Leaving me no time to do those homemade Christmas gifts.

Here's my baby, another cutie pie, decorating the tree, a couple of years ago. My how time flies! He is already 3!

Thanksgiving is next week!!! Christmas is around the corner. No time for homemade gifts, no time for long nights of pouring into craft projects that normally take me two or three months! I sure hope I find some time to go buy gifts! Yes, I've been hit smack dab in between the eyes with the realization that Christmas is nearly here. As Santa himself said (in the story 'The Year Santa Forgot He Was He') "My whiskers! It's almost December!!"

Janeta

Yesterday was our wedding anniversary. The day was beautiful! The sun come up bright and early and like always the Texas Hill Country sun rise was beautiful!
We've been married for 42 years now and so we are no where near newlyweds and so we opted out of the romantic candle light dinner and dancing under the stars. What did we do? Why go to our favorite store...Costco! But first we went to Garden Ridge and there was at the very least 40,000 square feet of nothing but Christmas lights, Christmas bulbs, Christmas holly, Christmas trees, Christmas Wreathes, Christmas candles...anything Christmas, they had it.

I wasn't in the Christmas buying spirit until I walked in this store and then all of a sudden I developed an acute disease that could be chronic if allowed. A disease called Christmas madness. Yes, I lost my mind right there in the store and started buying things to create work for me. Things I've sworn I'd never do!!!! Things like this:

No, it is not a Gingerbread House Kit. It is a Gingerbread Train Kit. Kevin is a boy and is heavily into trains, not just Thomas (although he loves loves loves Thomas) he just loves all trains. He doesn't give a lick about a girly house. So, when the sweet little boy begged for a Gingerbread Train, what does daddy do? Cave in. Really mama caves in too, but I'll never admit it...it's easier to blame daddy for spoiling the kid! It's the Christmas madness I tell you. Now if you don't want to catch it, don't go near Garden Ridge.

Then as we were wondering through the store I kept wondering where is all that beautiful Christmas music coming from? I pricked my ear and started following the tunes. It lead me to this tree with great big ole bulbs that flashed in time to the Christmas music and changed colors! Yes, this is where the music was coming from! An outdoor 9' musical Christmas tree that kept time to the music by strutting her stuff, er...I mean flashing her lights and changing colors! Bow to your partner! Doe Si do! Do the promenade! No, no, no, I mean Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Deck the halls with boughs of holly Falalalalalalalala....Oh there goes that Christmas madness disease strikes again! I just couldn't help myself. I fell in love with her branches and her lights! The Christmas madness disease made me do it! I also bought this: ...remote control and all!

Yes, you can tell you've been married a long time when you forgo romantic candle lite dinners for Gingerbread Trains and a Remote Control Outdoor Musical Flashing Christmas Tree! Not only that but when we left we went to none other than my favorite store...Costco! and the Christmas madness disease was kept under control for a time.

SUPPER TIME

A month or so ago I started back to work. So, my husband and I are a tag team now when it comes to cooking supper. He cooks on the days I work, I cook on the days he works. His meals are becoming more...um...extravagant? I use that term loosely. The meals I cook have become more simple. Here is a supper I cooked the other night. Take a look and watch out for the special surprise dessert..uh or is that desert no, it's dessert! I think.

What's this you ask.

It is the raw ingredients for a simple supper

that I cooked the other night.

Here it is all cooked up!

Baked French onion pork chops

Mashed Potatoes

Field peas - fresh from the can

Glazed carrots

Iced tea

The special surprise!

Chocolate Cake for desert..I mean dessert

Baked by none other than...

MY HUSBAND!

Thanks Babe, you're a keeper!

Janeta

PUPPY LOVE

It was love at first sight. Kevin kisses Happy and as you can see, Happy kisses Kevin! Kids and dogs. Aren't they sweet? My son Kevin just got his first dog last week. She is a tiny toy Chiuahua. Kevin took one look at her and said her name was "Happy".

Kevin is happy too!

VETERANS DAY

He came home as quietly as he went.

It was warm on Easter day, 1969. The day started early, but no one could sleep the night before anyway. Already packed, he got up showered and dressed in his uniform. Not really wanting to go and leave his wife and four month old baby behind, but he had taken an oath. He was a man of integrity, a man of character, a man of his word. After a morning of putting on a smile for the sake of everyone and being as positive as possible and taking pictures of family, he left. They were young. Both under 21. A young family, just starting out in life. He loved his family. He loved his country. He was proud to be of service.

Standing at the bottom of the jet planes stair way softly he his kissed his sad wife. Never wanting the moment to end, but it must. With a torn heart he hugged and kissed his wife and baby again, possibly for the last time? He never knew. He hated to go...go he must. With soft loving words he bid her good bye and turned suddenly and walked up to the plane. He turned breifly only to give a quick wave then he disappeared into the belly of the plane. Quietly he left. No good bye party. No crowd to see him off. It was a quiet parting.

The plane ride was long, a full 24 hours or more and when it was over he stepped into another world. A place called Viet Nam. He spent the next twelve months there, looking death square in the face everyday. He was in the jungle fighting, on convoy and working in the mourge. He had never saw a dead person in his short life. He would now see enough in that year to last a lifetime. Thousands and thousands. He was young, he grew up fast. War is hell.

There were no phones, no internet, no IM's, no email. Daily he wrote as many letters home to his young wife and family as he could. Finding a minute or two here and there he would record his day and affection for his family on a small reel to reel tape to send back to the people he loved. It was his only connection to home...home the place he loved where the people he loved were...home, the USA.

A long twelve months later he and many other service men boarded a plane headed for the home land. Going In Country as they called it. It was just another plane. When the plane landed he gathered his belongings and excitedly and quietly got on another plane to go to the home where his family was at. Landing in his home town he walked down the steps of the plane and headed to the airport terminal as queitly as he had left it twelve months before. No welcome home crowd, no banners, no bands. Inside the terminal he wasn't met with looks of recognition, no hand shakes, no thank you. No nothing.

His young wife was in for a surprising shock. She was sitting at the table writing him a letter, hoping it would reach him before he left. In her letter she bid him a safe journey and love. Never realizing he hurring to her at that very moment. Their baby was with her eating candy, when suddenly the young solider walked in, quietly.

My husband came home as quietly as he went.

---Veterans day (Nov. 11) has come and gone. But it is not too late, don't let another solider serve our country without hearing "Job well done" or "THANK YOU!" If you don't know a veteran or a military man or woman there are organizations, everywhere, that you can become involved with to send care packages to our men and women overseas, send cards, send letters. Give them a smile...and if you can meet a plane or bus load of service people. Meet them with ballons, bands, banners, cheers...just thank them...

Thank you to my husband, my nephew that is over seas Thank you to other veterans of every war and thank you to the veterans of peace time. Thank you to every American man or woman serving this great nation today! Thank you, God bless you.

Janeta

Welcome!

Hi y'all and welcome to Blessing Hill ! Why did I choose the name Blessing Hill for this blog? Simply because every since we moved to this hill we've had one blessing after another. Simple as that.

Who am I and why did I decide to write this blog? I don't know. I don't mean that I don't know who I am! What I mean is I'm not sure what spurred me on to write this blog...a whim? a burning desire to be a writer? a crazy idea? Yeah! That is probably more like it! Crazy!

I don't have any hidden agenda. Look, I don't have any agenda at all. I will write what ever comes to mind. Oh my!

Since this is my first post I suppose I'd better tell something about myself for those of you that don't know me. Now, this might be hard because you know I don't like labels, but how else do I describe myself with out using adjectives that are labels? I told you this might be crazy! Okay, on with it...I am a Christian woman that is, 59. I am a wife. I am a mother of three. I am a grandma of one. I am very opinionated (as you'll learn). I am really nice. (so they tell me) and most of all I have a lot of love in me to give and I am loved. Ain't that just peachy keen? They don't use that expression anymore, do they? I told you I was 59, that translates into old.

I told you we had 3 kids. What I didn't tell you that two are grown and we have a three year old son! No, I didn't have a baby at the ripe old age of 56! We adopted our little one. He came to live with us when he was only two months old. That is a long story that I'm not going into but let me tell you this, that little boy could never be more loved if he had been concived in my most innard parts and carried there for 24 months! Now, that is a stretch but you get the point. Our grown kids love him so very much and once our grandson got over his jealousy he loves him like a brother...not that took awhile though. The bawling baby drew our attention away from the grandson and man, oh man what jealousy that brought about.

I would like to try and create different subject tabs for this blog but I don't know how to do much at all yet. So, I'm just going to try and post a few photos for y'all. That way you might get a bit of insight into my life here on Blessing Hill. Let's cross our fingers and hope the pictures show up, okay?
Janeta