Satisfied Saturday - Must have been NICE

You are not going to believe this but it seems like I have been added to Santa's NICE list.  Now you are probably wondering where am I going with this.  Well when I woke up on Christmas morning, I saw all the gifts that had my name on it.  I was very excited to see what they were, but I had to wait until after our breakfast before we can open our presents.  Although I think some of them are truly for us and not just for me, but I still counted them as part of mine. LOL.  I figured I would take just one photo for all the gifts but it seems nicer to see them one by one which makes this post longer.  How I got in that nice list was just pure luck but I am guessing Santa was truly watching.  Anyway, I am just very thankful for all the gifts that I received and I already enjoyed using my skillet during a breakfast brunch with one of our neighbors.

Tidings Tuesday - Merry Christmas to all

How do you spend your Christmas eve?  How about Christmas Day? And of course where do you go on Boxing Day?  For us retired people, they seem to be all the same everyday and this week will be like any other day.  We wake up late, have breakfast, do our Spanish lessons and then decide what are we going to do today.  For most of the people, they will be with their family either at home or travelling to their family's home.  But there are those that just want to go away for a vacation somewhere and not be at home.  For whatever reason they have, it really doesn't matter.  What matters is that they are with their loved ones. Right?  We spent last Friday night singing carols around our neighborhood.  We stopped at some of the homes that opened their doors and had a drink or two and maybe even some yummy appetizers.  On Saturday night we went out for dinner with one of our newest friend.  We wanted to check out this local restaurant that everyone was raving about.  Well, actually we went there because we got a gift card from one of our neighbors.  For Christmas eve, we will most likely stay at home and prepare something simple, like steak and lobster. LOL.  There will be so many dinners and tons of food during the next few days, so maybe we will just have some appetizers for Christmas eve.  To all my readers and followers, I wish you the merriest Christmas and the happiest New Year.  I was debating whether to post this video or not but what the hell, it might give you something to smile about.

Final Friday - It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

It is the last day of November and we all know what that means.  There are only 25 more sleeps before Christmas Day.  Most of the lights and outdoor decorations are on our streets.  The variety of lights, blow up Santa, reindeer, Olaf and of course minions are glowing at night.  Some of the residential area have had their decorations and lights right after the American Thanksgiving.  We decided to wait until a few days after and it only took us a couple of days to complete our decorations.  Last year one of our neighbors lent us a couple of those blow up items (a Santa and a polar bear) which made Kevin the minion happy as he had company every night.  This year he is flying solo with a couple of trees with lights guiding him at night.  Of course our very own minion nativity scene is back and this time we did not have to repair anything as it stayed in tact in the special box for storage.  Over the weekend, I am planning to wrap some of the presents so I could place them under the tree.  It's probably not the right tradition but we do not have little ones who would keep checking them, shaking them, etc.  As of today the spot under the tree is empty and it looks bare and lonely.  In our neighborhood we do our very own Christmas Caroling on our streets.  This year I was voted to take charge of this event.  The invitation has been sent and I am just waiting for responses. On the day of the event, we gather at the starter home and sing a couple of songs and have a drink.  We would continue this to the homes down the street until we end the event at the last home for the night.  Last year we had so much fun doing it for the first time and we did not get home until past midnight.  Although I think the singing was just an excuse to get a drink, but the sharing of stories, laughter and toasting a drink or two, will make you feel so much like having a very big family who are together around the holidays.  

Shopping Saturday - Early Christmas Sales

Finally, I will be able to show all the items that I have been creating for the last couple of months.  One of my neighbor has invited me to a girls night out party at her home.  Aside from my items for sale, there will be other ladies who will be selling their stuff.  Something creative, something sparkling and some special skin care products.  She will be serving appetizers and I promised her that I will bring some finger foods and some new sweets to try.  Although I probably would only know about five ladies (from our neighbor that I have met), it will be a good networking event for my creations.  Here's some of the aprons I just made the past week.  There are four more apron to be completed by today's day.  I am hopeful that I was able to finish all of them.  Some aprons are reversible depending on the fabric.  Reversible apron lasts a bit longer because you can keep wearing one side until it's dirty, then use the other side before washing them.  

Mayhem Monday - Minions all together again

All hell broke lose, that's right, it happen when I was opening one of our moving box searching for an item that I packed.  It happened about a month after we moved.  When I opened the box that was marked Christmas stuff, I was almost in tears when I found our Minions Nativity Scene in a mayhem.  I seem to recall that I packed it so carefully and make sure enough protection surrounded it.  Jeff said, "not to worry because we can put it all back together with some glue".  We had to find another star since we did not want to make another one.  Finally Jeff put it all back together and one day we found the perfect star.  Now it is just waiting for the rest of the Christmas decorations to be in place.  Of course we need a tree.  This year we decided we will get a real one.  Our prior realtor of two years ago owned a Christmas tree farm and hopefully we can check out and pick our own tree.

Original taken Christmas of 2016

August 2017 after the move

October 2017 after Jeff glued the manger

Back together again with the star November 2017

Tree Trimming Tuesday - My first time

Have you ever been invited to a Christmas Tree Trimming Party?  Well, for Jeff and I, it was our first time, after all these years.  It was a day trip to Boulder Creek where the roads are very much winding all the way.  There were two ways to get there, one is very crooked and the other less snaky.  Either way it will make you sick if you are not used to it.  At first I was fine until we turned into another highway and that was it.  The sad part is that we will have to do it all over again when we go home.  Make the long story short I was not feeling good for the next couple of days.  The happy part is that I got to help decorate some of the ornaments for the tree.  Our friend Chris built this home and it took him three years but it's like a cabin over looking a bunch of redwood trees.  There's a beautiful fireplace and his bedroom is located upstairs loft.  Of course I took photos of the tree and the ornaments to share with you.

 

 

Weeping Wednesday- A very heartfelt post

With only two days before Christmas, I am starting to feel that reminder pain in heart.  There is only one reason why and most of you know what it stems from.  Yesterday I read a post from my friend's blog.  It was very well written and honestly it made my cry and it also made me laugh.  She is a very good writer and had the chance of reading her first published book.  It's the first time in my life that I have a copy of a published book written by my friend.  If you have some time during the holidays, I would truly recommend reading her post on her blog.  For some of us, it is very close to what we have gone through in life.  It will make you pause for a moment and truly understand what is important in your life.  Sometimes I wish I could write exactly what is going through my mind during the Christmas season. Maybe someday it might help with the healing and it time I truly hope it will.  As the saying goes, it's not all about me, today I offer the following Christmas wishes:

• May you always find time to spend together with your family not just at Christmas but throughout the year.
• May you find some strength and extra courage to deal with life's struggles whatever they may be.
• May your heart be kind enough to forgive and move on.
• May the rest of the world find peace not just during the holidays but each day.

Trees Tuesday - That's right Christmas trees

Halloween is a few days away and the USA Thanksgiving is a month away but the stores already have all the Christmas display.  It's a little too early and overwhelming.  My friend Jean and I stop by at JC Penny last week and this is what I saw.  Jeff and I bought our candies for the children that would be stopping by this coming Thursday.  As for Thanksgiving, I'm really not getting in the mood and trying to convince Jeff if we can skip it this year.  Since he has been overly busy at work and during the weekend, he spends most of the daylight hours working on the yard. Hosting the dinner at home takes a lot of your time although he takes care of the Turkey prep and cooking, I do most of the sides and trimmings.  We don't even know how many will be able to make it so for me, it's too much work for just three or four or even five people.  Then there's all the left over that Jeff and I have to consume.  It's not really good to have so much food when we are trying to cut down.

Wait, I just wanted to share these photos for you to enjoy, that is if you are already in the Christmas spirit.  

Timely Tuesday - Chirstmas at the Park

Christmas in the Park, downtown San Jose, California.  This is a tradition that started in 1950.  It begins on November 25 until after Christmas.  There's a lot of different displays and a lot of beautifully decorated Christmas trees.  We happened to stop by this past weekend because we had Gamble with us. Of course there's a lot of kiddy rides as it's a family type of festival.  The evening is a much nicer time to visit because of the lights, the music and of course the atmosphere.  I took some photos but it really doesn't show the whole picture.  You really have to be there to truly enjoy it.

I call this the FROGGY Christmas

This is one of those decorated trees, this is my favorite.

The Christmas Train - Gamble's favorite

Very interesting display.

The big Christmas tree, not lit as it was early in the afternoon

Maybe Monday - Merry Monday

It seems like the days are going faster than the last month.  There's only 20 more sleeps before Christmas.  During the weekend while Gamble was spending the night with us, Jeff decided to take out all the decorations for Christmas.  It was something to keep Gamble busy and not bored. I believe he truly enjoyed decorating the tree with his Grampa.  We don't have a real tree, instead we have a small one with LED lights already.  We have some lights in our backyard but not in front.  We have a wreath in our front door and some lights on the banisters.

Gamble's home

Our very tiny Christmas tree

The bannister

It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas in our home, but I need to decorate a bit more.  Is your home all decorated?  Do you go all out or are you one of those that doesn't do anything?

Fast Forward Friday - 23 more sleeps

Twenty three more sleeps before Christmas Day.

Twenty more sleeps before my sister from Canada arrives.

Twelve more sleeps before my doctor's appointment. 

Eight more sleeps before the lunch golf tournament with my friend Pete.

Six more sleeps before my daughter's 35th birthday.

You can see that I count everything that is upcoming by the number of sleeps and not by the number of days.  It's like being a kid and most kids count the number of sleeps before Santa comes and brings them the gift that they had asked for.  So how much notice do you need to give Santa so you can be guaranteed that you will get exactly what you wish for.  As I am such an organize person, I sent my letter to Santa via UPS about two weeks ago.  Now I won't have to worry because I know that the letter was delivered as I used the UPS tracking system on line.  I also know that Santa does not make mistakes.  Today is the second of December and it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

If you missed the Christmas at the Rockefeller Centre at NYC on Wednesday night,  the song that Javier Colon sang "It's the most wonderful time of the year" is now my favorite version.