Living Healthier - Day 8

I have been smoke free for 8 days. Well, for the most part. I have to admit I had two cigarettes within an hour one day as I was extremely upset. I know, excuses, excuses. But, I haven't had any more since so, I decided to not really count those. I am already beginning to feel better. While I've never had any real sinus issues, I have been plugged up every morning for years. Not anymore! I now wake up with clear sinuses and my mouth and throat aren't parched from breathing through my mouth half the night. I find this very encouraging and look forward to whatever other changes are coming.

Now, that my daughter has been back at college for a week, I'm just starting to adjust to the quiet. For the past week, up until today, I would stick a movie in the player and then go about whatever I was doing just to have some background noise. There is no cable in this house I'm staying in and I don't have a radio so, this was the only thing I could think of to do for noise. Didn't matter what movie or how many times I'd seen it; as long as it was playing. Living alone takes some getting used to but, it's better than the alternative.

Christmas Break Sleepover

I forgot all about these pictures that I took a week ago when my daughter had her sleepover with her best friends. They all took turns hosting a sleepover during the Christmas Break. We decided to celebrate 2 of the girls' birthdays as their birthdays were this month but, after they went back to school.

First, I made the chocolate cake. Seems that chocolate is a must with a bunch of girls. 'Scuse me - young women. I don't have any cake pans at the moment, but my biggest cast iron pan worked out beautifully.


I also didn't have any cake decorating equipment so I spelled out Happy Birthday with almonds. They loved it.


I also made them a pizza which they promptly devoured. My daughter says they can't make pizza like mine at college. That's good. I'd hate to think some institution could out-do my cooking! The girls were up until sometime between 4:30 and 5 am. So, I got a great opportunity to get them while they were sleeping. Ha!


So, I made them french toast and bacon for brunch. It was a lot of fun having them all here. I just love listening to them discuss their favorite bands and their unattainable heartthrobs and the latest movies and books they've seen and read. Such silly stuff that speaks of those days we all left behind when we graduated and started careers and families.

It's a Brand New Year!

Well, lots of changes and new things in store for me this year. First, I cut 20 1/2" off my hair. It was time for a change. Hair that long gets to be really bothersome after a while. I couldn't sleep unless I braided it before bed or it would all be in my face. Actually, my hair was braided most of the time just to keep it out of my way.

After taking this picture, I've also decided that I at least need some foundation. Ugh! I called my friend, Terri (you know the one who built the carport herself?), who just happens to be a Mary Kay person and she's going to do a make-over on Sunday. All I really want is to hide the blotchy-ness. Can't do anything about the sagging, but I can at least improve my color.

Then this morning, I started the Welbutrin to help me quit smoking. I'm fairly healthy in that I eat well and walk/hike a lot (even in winter), and want to go the next step and get rid of the tar and nicotine (and whatever other chemicals are in them) that I know are holding me back in my efforts to live well. Now, that I no longer live with a smoker and most of my friends are non smokers, this should be MUCH easier than past attempts (I lost count of how many).

So, onward and upward, my friends! A toast (with orgainic milk) to good health, good times and good friends!

Christmas Day

Terri's family invited dd and I for Christmas. Actually, they said we were now adopted into the family and were expected to be at their house for breakfast and opening gifts and, of course, for supper later on. I really had nothing to exchange, and felt bad. They told me it didn't matter. I did remember that I had managed to get some of the apple butter and plum butter I had canned out of the house and I gave one of each to everybody.

It was a wonderful day. DD and I were told that everybody just shows up at Grandma and Grandpa's house first thing in the morning in pj's. So, we didn't get dressed and guess what? We were the only adults in pj's! Terri's sisters laughed and said we should know better than to listen to Terri! Must be a big family joke that we just weren't in on - at least not this year! Anyway, breakfast was soooo good. Savory ham, scrambled eggs, all kinds of fruit and the biggest, softest, tastiest cinnamon rolls I have ever had (I had to cut one in half). After everybody ate breakfast, we all went into the living room where the gifts were handed out. Actually, they were tossed out and I found myself ducking! It was such fun to watch all the kids open their gifts and just get so excited about everything they got. Other than a sister and two brothers on the other side of the country (who don't respond to letters or phone calls), I don't have any family left. I haven't been a part of a big Christmas gathering since I was little. I was just on cloud nine!

Then, they dragged out a big red bag and told all the kids that the dog had scared Santa and he dropped the bag and left. I thought that was too funny. There were also gifts for me and Felicia and they were just wonderful.

Terri and her sisters all got a copy of "Mamma Mia" which they all went to the theater to watch three times. They just love that movie. One of her sisters, opened hers up to find a little sticky note on it that said "slightly used". She goes "Moooom!" Her mom said she just couldn't help it; she had to watch it one more time before wrapping it up!







Christmas dinner was wonderful, too. Turkey, dressing, prime rib, mashies and gravy and every other trimming you can imagine and the best dinner rolls and coconut cream pie! They had other folks for dinner, too, and had set up 3 long tables in the living room. The dining room table was set with all the food and we dished up our plates buffet style. After supper, they popped "Mamma Mia" into the player and all of us women watched while the men all went out to the kitchen to talk. That movie is sooo funny! I loved it.

Felicia and I had such a wonderful Christmas. We have so much to be thankful for and so many friends to thank for it. God has been watching over us and all those near and far who have made our holiday so memorable - I thank you all!

It's A Work of Art!

My friend, Terri, and her daughter brought us this tree that they had cut down on their own property. Terri laughed when we got it into the house and said it looked straight when it was on the side of the hill! No matter! I can make that work. It will be a beautiful tree and it will really cheer up the house. Who says it has to be straight, anyway! My Buffalo Bills blanket covers the stand. Ok, it's not a Christmas theme, but at least it's mostly red!


All decked out with what we had. Rose had given us most of the ornaments and Terri had brought some, too. It almost looks like a bonsai but, bigger! It smells great in here and I love it. DD keeps laughing at it, but I think it will be a tree she will always remember with fondness. I plan to leave it up until after she heads back to school.