Friday, December 31, 2010

There's always time... or is there?

Whew!  Our Mid-Missouri weather is taking us on a wild ride for the end of the year!  We woke to tornado watches and severe thunderstorms.  I took that opportunity to do something I really rarely do here at Mom's.  I crawled back into bed.  Dark.  Thunder.  Pelting rain.  Yeah, it was MY kind of heavenly morning....  The power was off for about three hours.   I just smiled....  that wonderful happy cozy smile of the very young...  (I was the only happy cozy one here, if you get my drift! haha..)

Then this afternoon we have had balmy sunshine, and now it is headed to the teens for the night...  Time and temperature phone is always busy, but I have the little app on my new HTC Desire...  What a phone!!!  It was a gift from Mom for Christmas, and when I learn how to run it, I think I can land aircraft with it!!!  Whoo!

Any New Year's parties or resolutions going on out there?  I think Mom and I are going to watch a movie, and my resolution is simple:  To be authentic.  If I am authentic and true to myself, I will not lie to myself and tell me that Christmas is a long way off when I should be getting ready.  I shall also not be lying about the bad fat/good fat thing, the time before grades are due, the upcoming holidays that march into my life and leave me scrambling and ill-prepared.  I will admit it when I think the bread is stale or the lamps were better off  "over there" than in their new places I argued so hotly to move them...  I will not pretend to like music I don't, won't act surprised when I'm not.  Now, I must be very careful about this:  I don't want to become one of those blunt old bossies that "speaks her mind" like Rachel Lynde in Anne of Green Gables...  but I do want to stand for what I think is true.  I have ALWAYS wavered for the sake of agreeableness... and even squandered a lie or two to simply avoid any revelation of my true feelings...

That sounds like a selfish resolution, probably.  But if I, at 56, don't finally stand up for some parts of my authentic soul, I fear I will forget what I ever stood for to begin with...  So, light the candles, put on the music (Celtic, if you please)...  and ring out the old year.  2011...  It looks weird on paper and sounds weird to the ear...  However, it is that year we are entering, and we might as well embrace it!  May it fill your hearts with joy as you and your beloveds make your way through it to the next.  Much love to all...

Thursday, December 30, 2010

The Old Year Ends. . . A Fresh Start Arrives!




As the snow falls to cover all the old, the New Year blankets the past, giving us a fresh, white page to write our dreams, our hopes, and our lives...  Thank you to everyone who happens through to visit Oatmeal and Whimsy.  This little blog is home.

Sunday, December 26, 2010

A warm and happy memory... Christmas 2010

 Christmas 2010 is now a memory and a good one...  The day was spent with our dear family, and we enjoyed it so much.  White Christmases are so beautiful, and this one was no exception.  Today Mom and I fixed some chili for my son and his lady love...  We just visited and laughed about all the scurrying we've been up to lately...  Tonight it is time to snuggle in and enjoy the candlelight.  I may watch a movie and catnap...  No school for a week...  always a part of Christmas blessings!!!  The kids need a break!
Happy Holidays!  I wasn't very prepared this year, but I was able to slide in with everyone else who was prepared...  It all worked out...  The real reason, the excitement of the season is the birth of our Lord...  what a joyous time to contemplate.

Friday, December 24, 2010

Merry Christmas One and all!

Wishes for you and your beautiful families and friends to have a wonderful Christmas!  We have snow, a magical holiday card outside.  Our family gathering will be tomorrow.  Time tonight to watch a holiday movie with Mom and dip pretzels, make cookies, and set out stockings, cookies and hot cocoa for old Santa!  Hugs to all of you who read my blog.  I treasure your comments!

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

It's Party Time again!

 Three of us gals used to run around all the time together.  When I lived at home and was retired half days, we charged around the countryside, taking in the gift shops and the movies, and the restaurants...  the little out of the way places, the road trips...  and oh, the laughs.  We called these excursions "Thelma and Louise" days...  minus the cliff at the end, of course! 
 Today we had a Christmas party here.  Mom and I just planned it yesterday, and it turned out perfect!  We served Quiche, Italian Spring Salad, Southern biscuits, Homemade Vegetable Garden Dip, chicken salad, and a delicious new frozen confection....
 My dear friend was here on Monday, and I didn't get to see her, but she brought wonderful treasures and left Mom with her Frozen Raspberry Bar Recipe  (along with a Frangelica Cake that is amazing!!!)
 Easy Peasy recipe that is really delicious!~   I'm adding it at the end of this post if you need a quick conclusion to your Christmas meal.

We tossed on a really sweet vintage tablecloth and used my new snowflake dishes..  So pretty!  These little cardinal cups and the Philosophy baubles were their favors...


Raspberry Treat

1 quart Raspberry Sherbet
1 medium carton Cool-Whip or 2 cups whipped cream, whipped
1 pkg. Oreos.  I used red icing Oreos...  So pretty!

Thaw sherbet slightly and press in a 9 x 13 pan or casserole.  Crush 2/3 of the Oreos and blend with the whipped cream or Cool Whip...  Spread over sherbet and freeze at least three hours.  Slice into squares and top with a dollop of whipped cream and an Oreo...  So pretty!!!  Refreshing!!!  Yum-o!

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Faith... Doubt.... and the ones we love

 Nope.  Not me.  Those of you who know me and love me probably think I am capable of a plate of cookies like this.  I would like to think so, although after 56 years, it can't be proven...  Those of you who don't know me might actually know me better!!!  I just make these cookies in my dreams...  and my dear family and friends bring things like this to us...  and guilt sets in...  not because of the nibble, (and oh, yes, dear, there are nibbles...)  but because I just sit and spin....  dream and duck out of things...  ???  What is the difference between a dreamer and a doer?....  the thing, the actual bona fide goodie!


 Perhaps someday...
Appreciation and gratitude and love runneth over....  Aren't these beautiful?

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Oh, much gratitude that nobody was hurt!!!



Can you spot what's wrong with this picture?  Yep...  that red car doesn't belong 15 feet inside Columbia Mall...  My son and his lady love were there today finishing up their shopping.  I got this call from her telling me that they were just inside a few minutes when they witnessed a LOT of commotion.  Well, yeah...  Evidently an elderly woman suffered some kind of medical emergency prior to losing control of her red car...  Thankfully, nobody was injured, although the Salvation Bell Ringer and 5 others were hurt and transported to the hospital...  What a shopping trip!

Let the seasonal parties begin!

 The stage is set for our first actual dinner party, which we had on Friday evening...  Dear friends came, and we visited, ate, and played Spinner.  What fun... Oh, and presents, too!  Aren't the holidays magical?
 Tomorrow my son and family will be here for lunch.  Right now the roving menu is calling for Tater Tot Casserole.  It may change by tomorrow noon..  Who knows for sure...  The one thing I am is flexible... probably too much so.  I never really make up my mind...  it just gets to late to vacillate any more.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

My favorite jingle at 6 a.m....

 So...  after my big bus ride yesterday to the Mexican Restaurant, I was sort of tired.  I took a hopeful glance out Mr. West Window but no snow greeted me.  I debated a little...  Could I afford to call in?  I really didn't feel super.  But, no... only four days until vacation.  Surely anyone can last four days if she has lasted for 35 years...  Surely...  My cereal wasn't enough to put a spring in my step...  Then about 6:15 a.m.  I heard it....  Jingle-jingle.  My phone.  No school.  Sleet had riddled the side and country roads, and I was blessed with a day off...
 Teachers know a happy dance!  It is called the day we don;t have to do anything for sure....  I wrote a few notes in my greeting cards, added some nostalgic ornaments to our tree, and did a little more shopping online.  I have decided to quit.  I;m rather out of money.  Part of it is wrapped, so I can;t remember what I have bought...  I will finish wrapping on Saturday.  Tomorrow night we are hosting a little dinner party for dear friends (and blog readers, too!)  I am ready to welcome and enjoy...  (Mom is still in panic mode so it won't really be :all is calm; all is bright" around here...
My son is coming to supper in a few minutes.   Have a lovely day!

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Mexican Fiesta Hoy!



Today I was fortunate to have permission to take my 29 Spanish 1 students to have lunch at a nearby Mexican Restaurant.  We were only out of the school for two hours, but it was so much fun!  Our school is really a tough-sell when it comes to field trips, so they felt free as little birds! I ordered Pollo Loco, and it was amazing!  I hadn't tried that before.  Feliz Navidad, Y'all!

Monday, December 13, 2010

All is calm... All is bright...

 Getting out the nativity set always sets the tone for a very special Christmas.  This one is a newer version, but the one I like the best is the chalk set from my childhood.  Although my son and I bought all these for Mom through the years, so it is pretty special as well...  She wants a stable...  And I haven't seen one in years that would fit these figures.
 So, for this year instead of there being no room in the inn, there's no inn in the room!! 


 One of the 3 wise men is an imposter.  Can you tell which one is a shepherd boy posing as a magi?  Yep...  the one on the right..!!!

Have a calm and bright holiday season.  Blessings to you all!

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Snowman Luncheon

 We have been cozying in to stay warm here.  Tonight the real temperature is 7 right now, but the wind chill may get up to 15 below.  I decided last night to put a tapestry throw over the headboard of my bed since my head was against the west wall, and we were getting a gale force from that quadrant...  I was quite into the whole look...  rather like I imagine an English castle....  or a Norse lodge if it had been furs...  (the big if)...  haha..
 Today we had several over with my son for a soup luncheon.  I got to use my new Temp-tations snowflake plates and mugs.  We had chili and cheeseburger soup and oatmeal rolls, salad, and apple pie...  I did an actual water pouring test to convince Mom these mugs held as much as our goblets, so we drank our iced tea from them...  She couldn't really believe it even when she saw it with her own eyes! 
 My journal has a note to Welcome Christmas this year.  I put that in all caps the first of December....  rather than the scurrying and the behind the 8-ball feeling we usually can get.  It is difficult, and more than one person has joined me with the profound statement that next year will be different.  Still, I rather think since this year has yet to come, I will go with that early December resolution to welcome the spirit and the sanctity of the holiday even when I am certainly not really "ready for Christmas."
Tomorrow morning when I'm brushing the snow away from my drifted car and hoping it might start in the cold....  I may or I may NOT be thinking welcoming thoughts... but tonight, ready to snuggle into my tapestry-robed bed with the fireplace heater humming away...  I am having myself a merry little Christmas....  now!

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Holiday Tour of Lights, Part 2

As promised, here are the rest of my holiday drive photos... Some are a little blurry...  I managed to capture the blue hour on the first two!  Isn't that amazing? 


Callao has an amazing display!






 So, my cousin was riding along with us, and she spotted this cute little "cowboy snowman."  She loves her hubby, her favorite cowboy, so she said, "Hey, let me run over there and you can take my picture by that cowboy snowman."  I said, "Sure..."
 I snapped the photo, and then I couldn't spot her in the picture. "Oh," I said to Mom.  "I think my camera must be out of focus because I don't see my cousin!"....  anywhere???  Wait, on the ground????  She had tripped over a light cord.  There she is sprawled beside her little cowboy snowman... 
 Oh, Pooh!  "To heck with the Cowboy Snowman," she said...  She wasn't in the mood for a photo shoot after that one!!!  We laughed and laughed!




 Bevier and Southern Train...  Isn't it beautiful?
Have a wonderful and blessed weekend....