The Holidays are approaching...

WoW..How hard is it to believe how quickly the holidays are approaching! Here I was this morning, writing about how the leaves were still green and the flowers still blooming..and then BAMM! It seemed like every time I turned around I saw and heard something on TV about getting ready for the holidays! I was looking for something (and completely forgot what it was) when I stumbled upon a box of old Christmas cards and ribbons. Which reminded me that the other day when we stopped at Walmart for dog food, the shelves were already being filled with everything Christmas! I think we just passed right over fall and Thanksgiving and went straight for Christmas!

I have many fond memories of Christmas as a child. All the gifts under the tree we cut down ourselves (ok..maybe we didn't really cut it..but it was in a lot where SOMEONE cut it! LOL). We opened our gifts on Christmas eve..every year, right after Midnight Mass. And the best Christmases were when it snowed! We lived in a small town, and I remember so vividly, cracking the window just a bit above my bed, just enough to smell the crisp winter air and to hear the Christmas music playing on the speakers in town. (((sigh)))...what a simple, wonderful time. It seems like yesterday..but at the same time a hundred years ago.

I always thought I'd carry on the traditions with my children. But, times change and life gets in the way. We struggled to keep food on the table and the bills paid. There was never that tradition of ALWAYS opening presents on Christmas Eve because we never knew if Mom & Dad had to work..if we worked the same shift that day or if one of us was on seconds and one on midnights. I could count on one hand the holidays I DIDN'T work as apposed to the ones I did! But you know what..my kids are ok..regardless of which day we opened presents! Traditions are a wonderful thing..but maybe not having them is a tradition, all in itself!

Christmas has always been my favorite holiday...I remember being teased growing up because I played Christmas music in August! lol I still do sometimes. But Christmas changed for me and my siblings two years ago. Very early Christmas morning in 2006, my sister and I sat beside my mother's bedside as she passed away. It was a tough day that Christmas. And we were still grieving the loss of my brother, who passed away on Halloween the same year. Just as dawn was breaking, after the funeral director had come and gone, I sat at the table with my older sister and brother and said to them...I knew she was waiting for Christmas..and to go on such a blessed day...well, what a blessing for her. Our gift that day was knowing that our mother was no longer in such horrible pain, and knowing that she was united with our father and brother. I prefer to look upon that day, as a blessing. So, Christmas holds even more meaning to us now. The picture above is the last photo of myself and my Mama together....she was rarely without a smile.

I do miss the days of all of us together...the kids are all grown and live 1000 miles away. It's tough for everyone to make plans to travel..us there..or them here. So some Christmases, we have to make due with mailed gifts and lots of phone calls. But either way..together or not..we're always together in spirit. This year, I've decided to make a special gift for each of the girls. (did I mention we have 4?) I haven't decided what it will be yet..(any and all suggestions are welcome! lol) but, as I said, the holidays are approaching..so I better get busy!

A Lazy Sunday and Farmer Brown

Nothing says the weekend like sleeping late..taking naps..and Farmer Brown for supper! No, Farmer Brown isn't a person..but what we had for supper! FOOD man! Such a simple dish and quite frankly, just comfort food and so not on the old diet!
Three simple ingredients...browned hamburger, mashed potatoes and cheese! All 3 layered (cheese on top) and stuck in the oven to melt together. Mmmm!!! Add some fresh fruit and ice cold bottle of water..and supper's on!

The rest of the day is spent just chillin out..Dad with some sports on TV..and the occasional...""YOU SHOULD HAVE CAUGHT THAT"" coming from the living room...and Mom in the kitchen messing on the computer. The dogs are just as lazy today and surround me as I speak..one snoring quite loudly I might add. Such spoiled little furbabies! (((sigh)))...all is right with the world at the moment!

With all the talk of the failing economy, gas prices (up then down)..and of course the election..it's nice to have a nice lazy Sunday. Now..I still have some laundry to throw in..but all in all..it's been a really wonderful day!

TODAY IS "CLEAN YOUR PET" DAY!!

OK...so I guess there's no hard fast rule on how many times you can "blog" in a day..and since I'm just getting the hang of the blog thing...thought I'd type some more.

Today, as it says above..is clean your pet day! I already told you I was cleaning the fish tank..which btw was a complete success!..and since they were so nice and clean, I moved on to the dogs! We have many, but I only washed the inside dogs...Charlie, Bubba, Jake and Emmy. None of which I might add liked it very much, but they did better than I expected! So clean and fresh!

So, here's a few pictures of the nice clean pets!



Group picture with Darci!! Darci, btw is our beautiful daughter, and from front to left is Charlie (who was maybe a pound or two when I got him and a week old..his mama is a full blooded toy chihuahua, and the father..who knows what!..which is why he is NOT the 7 pounds top weight my husband promised me he'd be! lol)..then there's Bubba..full on Jack Russell!..above Bubba is Cilla, who is Darci's baby (she didn't get a bath but she was already clean! hehe)..then Jake (or as we call him, Shaky Jake), full on Weiner dog and then the Devine Ms. M., or Emmy..our only female (inside) dog and all chihuahua!!! My husband says all the time that should anything happen to me..all 4 dogs would just lay down and die! Of course they wouldn't, but I'm sure they'd miss me! They are my shadows!
And here are my nice clean fish! It's hard to get fish to stay still for a photo op..lol...so I got most of them in there. They are definitely enjoying their nice clean tank, as is Mom. I didn't know before I had fish that they could actually have their own little personalities! Besides being so relaxing to watch..they will actually let me pet them..if you put your hand in, they circle a time or two and stop against your palm. Ahhhh...I know! Neat huh!

So, that's it for Clean Pet Day! I must take my camera out and take some pictures of my wonderful husband on his tractors! It must be clean your tractor day too..cause that's what he's been doing! lol

Until later..from Mossy Pond!

ALL THE BLOGS..AND TODAY'S 411

OK, I did start this blog thing a while back..and then well, didn't come back! Life..it gets in the way I guess..but this is something I really wanted to do. So this morning, while reading a blog of someone I don't even know (really..how many people know bloggers in person..right?) and thought of my own that I started and forgot. So, here I am! Which brings me to the title of this page..HAVE YOU SEEN ALL THE BLOGS OUT THERE?" I mean seriously people..there's hundreds (maybe thousand or gazillions!)...and they are wonderful! Or at least the ones I've read so far!

Most of the ones I've been reading this morning had to do with junking, and trash to treasure..I love that stuff! And though I don't do much of it..it fascinates me! Whenever I see something really neat at a craft show or on TV..I always say...Who thinks up that neat stuff! Well..bloggers do apparently! Way to go bloggers!

SO...today is a gorgeous day to be alive! I'm actually having a good day today and while it lasts, I want to get a few things done. My number one thing believe it or not, is to clean out the aquarium! Long over-do let me tell ya! And those hose things to get the water out..WONDERFUL!..again..who thinks up this stuff! Bet they're rich! hehe But seriously, it is long over-do and my fish will really be grateful I'm sure.

Let me tell you about my tank..it is, ohh..I think 75 gallons. The guy said it was 100, but me thinks not. And I often drewl over the 200+ gallon ones I see on craigslist or ebay. Oh..and have you SEEN the prices they are asking for just a 20 gallon tank?? OUTRAGEOUS! Sorry..got sidetracked. I have to find the big pots to put the tank "things" in (decorations) to boil them. Try to get the green off. I think I read somewhere to put them in the sun for a few hours..might try that after boiling. I currently have EIGHT fish..count 'em 8..in this tank and they are getting so big that my reasoning to the hubbers about getting the bigger tank..is it's for the fish!! hehe I have two very big Jack Dempseys, two beautiful big orange Blood Parrots, two very docile Oscars, One good size shark and of course a huge sucker fish. They are all (except for the sucker fish..he pretty much stays to himself) full of personality and will even let you pet them! I haven't felt up to cleaning their tank for a while now..so...today is the day!! They don't really like it..but they'll thank me later.

I also have another 45 gallon tank that is home to two beautiful pink kissing fish (can't remember the official name for them at the moment..(((can we say brain fog)) and four spunky tiger barbs..and their tank buddy, another sucker fish. Luckily, their tank is pretty clean (don't ask me how..must be the tank fairy), so I'll just change the filters in that tank.

Today is the THIRD day in a row that we haven't had to turn on the a/c!! Yaaaa! It's been a very long hot summer here in the panhandle and I'm anxious for cooler weather! I do miss the changing colors of the trees back home in Indiana. But after almost 10 years living in the south, you'd think I'd be use to it! Nope..still miss those trees! Here..it's just green one day..and nekid the next! But for today anyway..the leaves are still here and green and the sun is shinning and the humidity is low low low! A very pleasant 69 degrees! YAAA!!!

So I am off...(yes, I've been told that many a time!!)...to tend to my fish! Hopefully I won't get sidetracked, or be knocked down by an unexpected flare...and today will continue to be the beautiful day it is!

Heck..for all I know...no one will read this..but just in case...any seasoned blogger out there..can you tell me how you make your pages look so cool? I mean it's almost like myspace..changing backgrounds and adding things (yes, I'm a myspacer! lol)..if you know..I would love some advice and direction!

Have a wonderful, memory making, productive day my friends!

Until next time from Mossy Pond!

Yours Truly!