all was not calm...

So Christmas 2017 is now history. In the books. We're moving straight to New Year’s Day 2018!

TLC and her family, My Sweet Hubby (MSH) and I attended my family’s Christmas celebration on Sunday, the 17^th. It was fun. Memorable. And, actually, important. (Maybe some day I’ll take a little time to explain why. Skipping that today so this won’t be my longest post in seven years of blogging! Sigh.)

On that Tuesday (the 19^th), I went to TLC’s for the afternoon and night—in order to stay with The Little Princesses while their Mom and Dad went to Dad’s Bible Study Christmas Party. I woke up that Wednesday morning with a surprising medical issue I’d not had in years. And years. And YEARS. (Listen, I’m not going into details. There’s no point. Trust me when I say I was annoyed and in pain. Confident I could take care of it myself.) I decided not to panic. Left for our country casa around 5:00 that evening and got up Thursday morning ready to get some OTC meds and move on and forward!

I headed to town to the pharmacy for what I thought I needed. Plus, like all of Y’all, I had other necessary/last-minute-ish errands. When I got home I did something I never, ever, EVER do: I stayed dressed. (I ALWAYS head for my bedroom to immediately get comfy, changing into my jammy pants, a t-shirt, and my UGG slippers.) I laughed at myself after about an hour of cleaning, etc., in my cute little Christmas vest and sassy black booties. I decided I’d watched so many Hallmark movies the past month I thought I was one of the actresses that owns a B&B and spends her days and nights being a housekeeper and cook/chef for all her family and guests. While dressed in her most charming Christmas ensembles.  Teeheehee.

After dinner, I realized I could be in trouble with my new health problem. I semi-panicked, knowing my primary care physician’s office might not even be open the next day (typically, on “normal” Fridays, they close at noon…this was the Friday before Christmas Eve…sheesh…). I began becoming worried MSH and I would have to make an expensive trip to our ER. Not something I wanted to do. I rallied myself and became determined I wasn’t going to be in the hospital for Christmas.

I went to bed. Stayed there all that day. Saturday. Sunday (Christmas Eve). Doggedly Determined I would be at TLC’s on Christmas Day to see Little Leighton’s (aka LL) and Baby Elle’s (aka Belle) Santa Haul. MSH became My Sweet Nurse/Caregiver. I love him.

Meanwhile, TLC and Her Hubby were hosting his family for a Christmas Eve Brunch. Christmas Day they were, once again (after having Thanksgiving at their casa—I don’t know when TLC became such a driven, silly young woman…), hosting me and MSH, my parents and one of my two sisters and her son for a late Christmas Lunch. TLC's Christmas Week was jammed pack full of planning, cooking, laundry, cleaning, organizing, and wrapping, all while trying to stay CALM and focused. While reading depressing texts from me. (So sorry, TLC. I was often delirious.)

We made it to TLC’s casa on Christmas Day! Thank You, Lord. It was beyond wonderful.

This past Tuesday, I reached my doctor’s office/nurse first thing. They called me in a script. Confirmed she'd give me a referral to a specialist. (Checked with said specialist to make sure he'd be in his office after the first of the new year.) Got to crack-a-lackin’ on getting myself well. It’s been slow. Maybe semi-steady. I don’t know. I can tell you this: Getting old is HELL, Young Folks. HELL. You simply do not rally as fast as you once did.

We’ve been warned by our Weather Peeps for over a week that North Central Texas will experience a cold blast of frigid air—and possibly sleet and ice—tonight. Many, many of us have prepared to hunker in and down—celebrating New Year’s Eve and Day at home. Cozy. Warm. Wise. MSH and I? Ready. Heartbroken for all the people in America who are experiencing horrid/dangerous weather.

Tuesday Belle is going to come stay with MSH/Pa-Pa and I/Grammy for a couple of nights! We can’t wait. It’ll be our first time to keep just her since she was born—twenty-one months ago! Little Leighton is getting excited about having “Mama Time!” They have plans to see a couple of movies and have a Mom/Daughter mani-pedi. We’re all praying the weather holds and NO ONE GETS SICK. Flu is rampant. Cold germs are EVERYWHERE. (LL has already had an on-going cold for days and days. Belle has not been as sick—but has had some ickiness. A Walmart checker coughed in my face Thursday afternoon—telling me she had fever. I came home and ate an orange for Vitamin C. I’m sure that’ll help, right?)

TLC and I want to once again thank each of you who follow our blog and our cRaZy lives for your on-going interest, friendship, and kindness. Y’all are FABULOUS. We wish you ALL a HAPPY NEW YEAR! (Picture me tooting one of those little horn thingies…)

May 2018 be your BEST YEAR EVER.

Love and Smooches and BIG HUGS!

ELC

the blessing of hope...

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”

(Luke 2:11)

Merriest Christmas Day from ELC, TLC, Little Leighton and Baby Elle!

*God bless each of you with The Gift of Faith and The Peace of His Love…today and always...

 

Christmas Eve Eve!

TLC loves lists. Always has. Always will. And I adore reading them! I knew she’d done a list about Christmas (her most favourite time of the year—even over Fall!) and I even thought I remembered it was either in 2011 and 2012. It was tomorrow's date in 2011!

I’ll be letting y’all know in a few days about the specifics. What I think still applies. What I think has changed. She can confirm whether or not I was right!

In the meantime, Silly Friends Everywhere—Merry Christmas Eve Eve!

Smooch!
ELC and TLC

From December 23, 2011:

Y’all know by now this is my FAVOURITE time of the year!

Please allow me to count down The Top 25 Things I Love, Love, LOVE About Christmas (they're in no particular order, with the exception of the first five!):

25. Snow. We don’t see a lot of it in Texas, of course. But when we do, it’s magical.

24. Christmas carols and songs, especially:  Silver Bells and We Wish You A Merry Christmas. I had a Sesame Street Christmas cassette tape when I was a little girl. I distinctly remember their version of We Wish You A Merry Christmas being major fun.

23. Santa. (I Believe!)

22. Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies. Fifteen years ago, Mom and I decided it would be our “tradition” to bake these yummies every year. You know ‘em—they’re the cookies that have a Hershey’s Kiss in the middle!

21. Decorating my tree.

This year, I put our tree in the dining room.

We had Hubby's family over last night to Eat, Drink and Be Merry!

20. Hot cocoa. With a peppermint stick to keep it stirred.

19. Chick-fil-a’s Peppermint Shake.

18. Blue Bell Peppermint Ice Cream.

17. Dairy Queen’s Candy Cane Blizzard.

16. Giving gifts. I love that shopping part.

15. Getting our first Christmas card in the mail! And then being excited, every day after that, to go to our box to gather the others. I truly enjoy the cards that have pictures of cutie-patootie babes, kids and sweet families.

14. MC’s Strawberry Bread. She’s been making it for her family and friends for years and years. When I moved away after college, she was kind enough to start making me my own little loaf every year! It is HEAVENLY. (Poor ELC and Dad. They have to share one. NOT MOI! I admit it: I sometimes don’t tell Hubby we have it. I want it all to myself. That’s bad. I know. I’m sorry.)

13. Christmas Vacation.  It’s a classic.

12. All things reindeer! From the cute ones at Pottery Barn—on plates, napkins, etc.—to the precious ones at Hobby Lobby. I adore reindeer!

11. Christmas lights. Specifically the little, white, twinkle ones. They always seem to have an extra “sparkle!” Dad used to wrap the trees at our old house with strings and strings of those tiny white lights—the house I lived in (and that "Built Me") for the first sixteen years of my life. I learned, about ten years ago, that My Sweet Dad would DREAD the Sunday after Thanksgiving. That was THE day to hang the lights. He’d usually do it by himself, as Mom would be inside, decorating our tree. Although he would have rather skipped a year—or five—he did it for me. Because that process, to me, meant Christmastime was here!

10. Thinking about past, treasured (or humorous!) gifts. From Santa. From my parents. From family. From friends. Most especially, from My Darling Hubby.

9. Anticipating this year’s gifts! LOL. J/K. No, sorry, again. I'm not.

8. The adorable Christmas doormats at Target. I love splurging on a new one every other year.

7. Did I mention MC’s Strawberry Bread? 

6. Etsy! For those one-of-a-kind gifts!

5. Christmas Eve with my Hubby’s family. 

4. Christmas Day with ELC and Dad.

3. Traditions. My Family’s. Hubby's Family’s. Ours. The ones we’ve made together and the ones we’ll continue to make—every year for the rest of our lives.

2. Stockings! Especially Henry’s. (We cherish our Prince Henry!)

1. The Celebration of the Birth of Jesus Christ. The Reason for this Glorious Season. 

May God bless each of you with peace, joy, happiness, warmth, and, most of all, love. 

I wish you a Merry Christmas!!!

Decor 2017!

Can y'all believe it's almost here? Little Leighton is basically counting down the seconds. God love her. I wanted to share a few pics of my Christmas decorations this year--mainly for my own record. I can never remember exactly where I place "things" year-after-year. Since this is the first Christmas in our new-new house (we were only in the last one for two years, just saying'...), I'm still trying to figure out where everything should be placed/find a home. (And I think it's fun to see how other people decorate their spaces, so thank you for indulging moi.)

(That is a "Hostess" Nutcracker! New to my collection this year. From ELC! 

She's holding a tray of glasses and WINE. ELC knows me so well.)

(Apparently this pic is blurry? Maybe? ELC says not on her phone/computer. Sorry. I have no clue why. I think it pairs nicely with the bottom third of my tree that is light-less. 

I don't have the time or energy to figure out which bulb(s) is/are burned out. 

I'd rather just buy a new tree. Is this where I need to crankily blurt out: BAH HUMBUG?)

Merry ALMOST Christmas, Friends!

my sweet hubby's seminar...

So today My Sweet Hubby (MSH) and I had things to do in Ft. Worth. We left at 8:15 a.m. for Costco. (Discovered if you get there at 9:50, sometimes they open up early! That was a nice surprise.) We’d already gone through a carwash in MSH’s truck and filled up his tank with gas.

Costco (and Sam’s, for that matter) always amazes me. You can be up front—near the cashiers—and there’re no lines. Two minutes later? TWO MINUTES? Every person in the store is now checking out AT THE SAME TIME. Sheesh.

We went from there to a meeting that lasted about an hour and a half. It included lunch. Which was tres nice. Then we made a run by the Apple store. I needed to pick up a new charging cord. (I get the 6-ft cord. Long story.) I haven’t had mine for even a year. It stopped working a few days ago. I can’t even continue this discussion. It makes me NUTS. That store makes me EVEN NUTTIER. (The guy that helped me? I truly never knew if he was talking to me or someone on his ear-piece. I chose to look everywhere but at him while he printed my receipt. I’m old. I can’t handle a lot of confusion.)

Then we went to Wally World in Weatherford. For 30 minutes of last-minute items we needed that we couldn’t get at Costco.

Got home around 3:30. Pooped. Cause we is old.

I’ve not mentioned lately that I’ve lost 44.4 pounds. FORTY-FOUR POINT FOUR pounds! On Weight Watchers! I’ve actually hit my goal and will be a “Lifetime” member in January. I. AM. PSYCHED. They very recently changed the Smart Points program to a program called Freestyle. I’m adjusting. It shouldn’t be such a big deal.  I’m slowly adjusting. Sigh. I’m not big on change.

After we unloaded MSH’s truck, I decided I was going to make me a very, VERY low-point dinner. A lot of veggies and legumes are now “zero” points. In WWs’ terms? That’s big. Huge, in fact. I got out a can of Progresso Light Chicken Noodle soup. Which I think is YUMMY. A can of chickpeas. A can of low-sodium pinto beans. A can of corn. And a can of peas. (I thought the peas were going to be zero—turns out they were 2 for ½ cup. I’m so sorry to bore Y’all with these details.) I then found one of MSH’s sauce pans to combine all of these together—knowing it’d be at least three meals for me. If not four.

Now here’s a little tidbit of minutia for Y’all: I cannot use MSH’s electric can opener. I simply cannot figure out how to work it. You actually hold it in your hand while it opens the can. Makes a lovely “cut” that allows you to keep the lid and use it again. (WTH happened to the electric can openers of days gone by??? They were a piece of cake.)

I tried to learn how to operate it when he purchased this annoying-kitchen-thingy several years ago. I failed. Over and over. Proceeded to buy myself a Kitchen Aid can opener that is just that: ONLY A CAN OPENER. Not electric. Not fancy. Old-fashioned. I adore it.

As MSH watched me begin to open all of the cans, he said: “Could I get my can opener out and do that for you?”

Yes. That was nice. Because he’s nice. A LOT. However, I felt I needed to make my (on-going) point that I don’t need his stinkin’ weird can opener. I said I appreciated his thoughtfulness, but I was good.

His reply:

“You know, you’re invited to my Electric Can Opener Seminar. It’s next week. Tuesday. It won’t last long. Promise. Try to come!”

I, unfortunately, cannot attend. Darnitall. Maybe he’ll have another one down the road. Winky. Wink.

Happy Friday! Happy Weekend, Silly Friends Everywhere! (Try not to eat a lot of food from cans.)

smooch,

ELC

attack of the horsefly...

So I was going to do a completely different post this evening. (I am in LOVE, LOVE, LOVE with a cute little sitcom called 9JKL. I think it’s a CBS show. And I’m not sure what night it comes on. Thursdays? Maybe. It’s about a Mom and Dad that live on the same floor in a high-rise building as their two sons. The oldest son is a heart surgeon. The younger son—the Mom’s favorite and everyone knows it—is an actor. Oldest=married with a son. Youngest=divorced. I think. Y’all would know ALL OF THESE ACTORS. Maybe not the wife of the oldest son. Elliott Gould is the Dad. Linda Lavin is the Mom. They are PERFECTION. I can’t get the sons names to come to my brain right now—but y’all know them. Trust me. The characters are perfection. The writing is HYSTERICAL. I laugh out loud. On my couch. The entire 22-ish minutes (I record it so I pass up 99% of the commercials.).

Sadly, I believe the last episode is this week. (Sorry I’m slow on sharing my excitement about this awesome TV show. If you have Netflix or can somehow watch it on some other service, please, PLEASE do. I would be shocked if you didn’t think it was as wonderful as I’m telling you.)

I am hoping and PRAYING this adorable show is renewed. If y’all have been reading our blog long, you know shows that we LOVE, LOVE, LOVE seem to get cancelled. This show is FABULOUS. Funny. Creative. Different! It should not get the ax/a pink slip.

Tonight I want to VENT/share/complain about a RAGING horsefly that literally attacked me this morning as I tried to get into my shower.

My Sweet Hubby (MSH) had left for town to get his haircut. It was about 8:00 a.m. I had the water on and was literally walking in when out flew this cRaZy and HUGE horsefly. (We don’t have a shower door. You walk into the shower and take a hard right. Now you’re in.) I screamed. SCREAMED. At the top of my old lungs. It scared me so much I thought I might have a heart attack. Or stroke.

It flew BACK INTO THE SHOWER. Waiting for me. I got my robe back on in milliseconds and ran to our utility room, which is where I keep two fly swatters. I grabbed the ugly one. (The cute one is animal print and it’s really just there to make me smile when I see it.)

I went back into our bathroom—peeked around the corner of the shower—and couldn’t see the evil horsefly anywhere. I hit the wall a couple of times with the swatter in order to make him (or her—whatever—makes no difference to me it was SATAN) hear and understand I had returned and was armed. And DANGEROUS. No sign of it/him/her. I put the swatter onto my husband’s sink counter and began to get back in.

IT CAME OUT OF NOWHERE and tried to attack me again! Y’all. I RAN. Grabbed my robe and ran into our bedroom. Screaming. Like a baby.

I. Was. Done. At this point, I decided I could not deal with this vicious insect. I went into our second guest room bathroom and took my shower in there. This third bathroom has two doors. Closed both as soon as I scurried in. I worried he’d/she’d fly in under one of the doors. I rushed my shower as fast as I could.

When I was finished, I went back into our bathroom to get my makeup on and do my hair. (I had a date with My Dear Friend Emily for a pedicure and lunch. I couldn’t miss it.) While finishing up my routine, I kept looking over at the shower. Wondering if he/she was still in there.

MSH got home about 8:20 and asked me why there was a fly swatter on his counter. I told him My Spellbinding Story. When I’d completed My Nightmare Tale, he shook his head and walked away. I couldn’t determine if he thought I’d made the story up or simply judged me to be silly and, well, a big ol’ CHICKEN Girl. Like I cared that he thought I was a out-of-control scaredy-cat.

I left at 9:40 and didn’t get back home until 3:00. At which time, MSH informed me of The Devil Horsefly’s DEATH. He’d kill him moments before I came in the house. I think MSH had a new-found respect for me. (Okay. Not. But at least he confirmed I didn’t dream up The Horrid Horsefly.)

Here’s hoping each of you has a Terrific Thursday manana—full of butterflies, redbirds and beautiful/regal EAGLES. NO HORSEFLIES or flying things that frighten the bejeebies out of you.

SMOOCHES and HUGS, Silly Friends Everywhere…

ELC

just...flat...lucky

I’ve shared my love for and admiration of My Sweet Hubby (MSH) in the past. He is truly, TRULY the best man I’ve ever known. He’s smart. Kind. FUNNY. (Even though he’s the funniest when he doesn’t mean to be and is surprised that I or TLC or anyone else thinks he’s intending to be funny!) Hard-working. Unselfish. Loyal. Dependable. Oh…and HANDSOME. Very handsome.

Now, do you even think we don’t have “issues?” As a couple? Disagree? Even fight? Because we do. Have issues. Disagree. Fight. (Not physically. That cannot and will not happen. Ever.) We’re scarily alike in thousands of ways. And seriously DIFFERENT in hundreds of others.

It took him the first ten years of our 39 years of marriage to learn how to be thoughtful. In terms of celebrations. My birthday. Valentine’s Day. (By the way: He lets me know EVERY February 14^th that this holiday completely frustrates him. God love him. He’s determined Hallmark created this nightmare and contributes to his inability to remember this day and to find the best gift(s) for me. Mostly because I don’t want flowers. Or candy. Do I adore both? ABSOLUTELY. Neither lasts, however, and I want gifts that last. Please don't judge me as too witchy. He’s used to my preferences about gifts by now.) Then there's Christmas. His ultimate STRESSOR.

As TLC got older and older, she became his GO-TO Gift-Buying Assistant for me. Together? THEY DO AWESOME. Every year my gifts get better. And better. And BETTER. (Listen...NOT more expensive. Trust me. It is not about the money spent. It's about creativity and originality.) TLC has also become a fantastic source for ME—in trying to come up with special gifts for MSH.

The truth is this: MSH and I don’t need or really want gifts. We’re at the stage of our life where we’re trying to get rid of all of our “stuff.” If you’re young, you will reach this stage. Believe it. I suggest you reach it by your EARLY 50s. Take my (unsolicited) advice: Start purging your home, drawers, closets, storage sheds/units, etc. llooonnnnggggg before you need to. Your energy levels create difficulties when trying to find places for items you’ve purchased over the years (other than the trash/dump). It can get stressful. And, you discover, no one you know...not your children, your grandchildren, your relatives or your friends, wants any of your treasures. Sigh. BUT...TLC will not have it. She refuses to allow us to NOT give each other gifts. Apparently she thinks she's Our Boss.

Gifts of clothes? MSH and I both like to pick out our own. Pretty much. Shoes? Heck, no. Jewelry for moi? Yes—occasionally. I’m not really needing much more jewelry, at this point in my old life. It seems to call attention to parts of me I don’t want people to focus on. Like my neck. My hands. Etc.

I’ve shared all of this preliminary info to lead up to what MSH wanted me to “give” him for Christmas. It was something I could actually accomplish without the help of TLC! (This post will be the first she's hearing of this...)

He asked me to show him how to load music from iTunes onto his iPhone. That's it. That's all. Music. Christian. Christmas. Country. I wasn’t even going to have to pay for it! He is the CUTEST.

We worked on this project/gift last weekend. I got the Christian and Christmas playlists started. We have more to download. We might do more loading later on this GORGEOUS Saturday afternoon in North Central Texas. (If I can get him in the house before I become too pooped.)

When we’re driving each other cRaZy(ier)…when we’re tired and annoyed by each other’s shortcomings…when we’re just needing some breaks from each other's nonsense/whining/groaning/neediness? I try to remind myself how lucky I am. 98% of the time I feel like the LUCKIEST Woman on this Earth. To be married to This Wonderful Man. (The other 2%? I want to roll my eyes while I throw a pillow at him and go get in my bed. Keepin' it real, Friends. Just keepin' it real.)

Gotta scoot…laundry to do…rooms to vacuum…Hallmark Christmas movies to watch!

Y’all have some fun out there this weekend, okay? (If you’re married? In a relationship? Try to remember what made you fall in love with your spouse/partner. Try to be patient. Helpful. Kind. GRATEFUL. Feel how lucky YOU are. It's important. Winky. Wink.)

smooch!

ELC

cow visitation

Happy Wednesday Eve, Y’all!

I am recovered! From my horrid cold/sinus infection/whatever-in-the-heck I had. I kept thinking I’d go to the doctor. But I didn’t have to. YIPPEE!!! (Saved myself at least $100. YES.)

Bless My Sweet Hubby’s (aka MSH aka Pa-Pa) heart. A week ago this past Saturday he went to town early EARLY in the morn to purchase this sickly gal some of my treasured tissues. Y'all remember? The ones with lotion and VICKS. I was pretty sure I told him just one box would be sufficient. This is what he came home with:

God love and bless him! Hopefully this doesn’t mean I can get another cold anytime soon. I have ZERO interest in that situation.

So last week, because I was improving health-wise every hour, I got to spend two nights with TLC and The Little Princesses. Then they came Friday to spend the night here at our country casa. Woo Hoo! Felt like it'd been YEARS since their last visit. I do think it'd been over two months.

Little Leighton (aka LL aka Biscuit) and Baby Elle (aka Belle) had not yet seen our two new baby calves (they'd seen Olaf): Baby Belle (yes, named after our second little darlin' granddaughter) and Sven. (Are you realizing Biscuit's Frozen theme here?) They’d seen pictures, of course, but not the babies in person.

So once they arrived around 1:00ish, they boarded the Ranger with Pa-Pa and TLC and went to check out our Mamas and their brood(s?).

Here are a few pictures of their adventure taken by Moi from various spots—our front porch, our driveway, the back porch. A couple were captured by TLC. (Those would be the ones up close and personal!)

Saturday morning, I accompanied Pa-Pa and The Little Princesses back down to the pastures (With no phone. It was wonderful. I could enjoy every second with no distractions.) to find and feed the cows. Once we got back, Buddy Boo Bear and Hunter waited patiently for their friend, MSH, to come from the Barn. When Belle noticed them, she decided she needed to go tell them a couple of things. What were those things? No clue. But she was serious.

MSH and I ADORE our moments/days/nights/times with Our Girls! Nothing—and I mean NOTHING—is better for our hearts and souls than memories created with all of our grandchildren.

Wishing each of you happiness, adventures and sheer JOY tonight, tomorrow and always…

Hugs,

ELC