My "Favorite" Day of the Year!

January 1. Anyone who knows me...even a little....knows this about me. I LOVE the Rose Parade...I love making Jimmy Dean Sausage Balls and watching the ENTIRE PARADE...I look forward to this every year. It is also my BROTHER'S BIRTHDAY. New Year's Day was always a big deal while I was growing up. We used to spend the day at the Sheffield's. The men would watch football, the women would hang out in the kitchen. The kids ran around and did what kids do. In my parent's close circle of friends,the Sheffield's were the first family to own a COLOR TV. Yep, you heard it right....most everyone had BLACK AND WHITE TV'S...so all of my parent's close friends gathered at the Sheffield's so the men could watch football in COLOR. It's always been about the men...right? I think there was always a birthday cake somewhere in all of the food available and some mention of my brother during the day. Those friends of my parents remained throughout the years...in the latter years they called themselves the GOLDEN AGERS. I have so many fond memories of those years. Seeing the rose parade in color was as exciting as watching the Wizard of Oz and seeing Dorothy open the door to Munchkin land after the house landed. Just spectacular! Hope each of my readers enjoy their New Year's Day.
You know where I'll be....in front of my new 37" tv with a sausage ball in my mouth. CHEERS!

Christmas Eve with Robin

I can always count on Robin to make our times together special. She pulled out all the stops and made a dip that tasted like buffalo wings, Cincinnati Chili Dip, veggies, fancy crackers...a pumpkin eggnog...cookies and CHOCOLATE FUDGE CHEESE...a Shrimp salad/salsa with a name that I've forgotten and had music playing softly in the background. The house was nicely decorated and we felt more like special guests than family. I included a photo of their tree. The only thing missing was the scent of pine ( artificial tree)

PaPa's "Unique" gifts

PaPa usually shops last minute, which was never a problem in Boca. He had this little store he always went to...he was probably the only one who shopped there because eventually they went out of business...but Robin and I called it the little Taiwan store...he always managed to find something there...one year, he bought Robin a GLASS HEAD. I still have it. Use it to hold an antique hat. You should have seen her face when she opened it. One year when Robin got a Barbie Pool, he bought a fake plastic rat and put it "poolside". One year he bought me a Clay charcoal heater pot. We still have it. With the economy the way it is...we might need it when we can no longer pay our heating bill. This year....he bought a book for Jacob...the Dangerous Boy Book. It has all kinds of activities that ONLY BOYS would like. Experiments and such....but for Hannah and me...he bought ORCHIDS. They are really lovely. I miss PaPa's plants. He had so many neat bonsais and orchids in Boca. He built a small screened area off our kitchen...I affectionately called it "Lucy's room" after my mom (Lucile) because he made it right after she died. He filled it with beautiful fowering plants and it was the view from my kitchen window. Fragrant and lovely. I hope Hannah appreciates her orchid as much as I do mine.

A Christmas Eve Concert

I just love this photo. I am not the best photographer...but this really captures a beautiful memory for me. Jacob and Jason....one lover of music and one just learning the saxophone. Jacob played so well tonight. I was so proud of him. Now I am looking forward to hearing Hannah on the clarinet and Jacob on the sax doing a duet....actually, I could join them on the electric keyboard...wait a minute....could we start DeeDee's Band? Your thoughts????

I'm a Doris...

Your result for Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz...

You Are a Doris!

You are a Doris -- "I must help others."

Dorises are warm, concerned, nurturing, and sensitive to other people's needs

How to Get Along with Me

* * Tell me that you appreciate me. Be specific.
* * Share fun times with me.
* * Take an interest in my problems, though I will probably try to focus on yours.
* * Let me know that I am important and special to you.
* * Be gentle if you decide to criticize me.
In Intimate Relationships

* * Reassure me that I am interesting to you.
* * Reassure me often that you love me.
* * Tell me I'm attractive and that you're glad to be seen with me.
What I Like About Being a Doris

* * being able to relate easily to people and to make friends
* * knowing what people need and being able to make their lives better
* * being generous, caring, and warm
* * being sensitive to and perceptive about others' feelings
* * being enthusiastic and fun-loving, and having a good sense of humor
What's Hard About Being a Doris

* * not being able to say no
* * having low self-esteem
* * feeling drained from overdoing for others
* * not doing things I really like to do for myself for fear of being selfish
* * criticizing myself for not feeling as loving as I think I should
* * being upset that others don't tune in to me as much as I tune in to them
* * working so hard to be tactful and considerate that I suppress my real feelings



So those who "really" know me....what do you think about this quiz...was it accurate?

Leftover Turkey

Anyone got any good ideas for using up the LEFTOVERS? I mean New ideas...I'm tired of Turkey sandwiches and turkey and gravy over noodles...something NEW? One of the guys at work shared that he takes his leftover FRIED bird and makes a Turkey Soup. I'm not a big soup fan...I mean I do like soup, and just an FYI...if you have an Atlanta Bread Company in your town...try the Butternut Squash Soup....DELICIOUS...anyway..all you "Martha's" out there...please share. BIRD's the WORD.