Wrapping Up 2014

So I write after my month-long self-imposed hiatus.

November just took the life out of me.

As did working about three weeks of 6-8 straight days in the ED

then driving to pick up Momma in SoCal, 

then driving back 12 hours home to work over Christmas

then.. then.. then...

Now, December, and 2014 for that matter, is winding down, and I am posting.

Christmas is by far my favorite holiday, and with working so much this year

I really didn't feel like I got to enjoy it.

Usually, I have all my decorations out the weekend after Thanksgiving,

get the lights put up by the first, and the entire house decorated.

This year, I had one day around December 13th to go out and pick a tree with my hubby

so that he could cut it down, drag it into the house, and then

half-ass decorate it so that I could have that done before going to work the next day.

Even my reindeer just got lined up on the mantle with no small trees and candles

around them like I usually do.

No trimmings on the front gate and fencing.

Not even lights on the house...

Then today I took it all down.

Day after tomorrow I drive back to Sacramento for another 

9 shifts in 10 days.  So I have to have everything ready in the house

before I leave.

I got to enjoy Christmas for all of about 16 days.

I wonder if I will be able to arrange my work schedule next year so that I can

take most of December off..

We'll have to see what the new year brings

as the door closes on this one....

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas

and a blessed and joyous New Year...!!

Christmas Countdown - #11 - Holly Jolly Christmas

Who doesn't love Rudolph...?

And, reindeer??

I have a collection of silver reindeer that I've been

slowly building up over the years...

The herd is back and bigger than ever...

and this song from "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer"

is definitely a Christmas favorite...!

"Have a holly jolly Christmas
And when you walk down the street
Say hello to friends you know
And everyone you meet!"


Before tomorrow's entry heading into the Top 10,
here's a bonus Honorable Mention...

Remember this almost 30 years ago...??
Do They Know It's Christmas..?

How Long Has It Been...?

 Wow, after a feverish month of blogging daily, I have gotten lazy, haven't I...?

Let's wrap up:

On the 30th we had, what's becoming, our annual Wine and Mushroom party.

It was wet, sloppy weather and the chanterelles were a bit waterlogged,

but I made a fantastic sangria, plus opened several other special bottles I had

laying around the house, and we had a lot more people show up than last year.

All in all, a LOT of fun, and it really highlighted my lack of seating

since everyone chose to sit around the kitchen table and eat appetizers

instead of milling around.

That weekend I started my decorating for the holidays.

Here's the trim for the fence at the end of the driveway.

I love those big ornaments, but somehow 2 have disappeared, 

and I can't account for how that happened.

I have a thing for silver reindeer, and I added a couple more to the collection.

The slender deer in the middle of the picture is one of the new ones.

He's looking very handsome and is a nice addition to the herd.

We have green eggs!  

This means that at least one of our latest 2 hens are starting to lay.

As you can see, there are 4 different colored eggs, so at least 4 of the 13

(well actually 10 since 3 are roosters) chickens are laying now.

This will be great and I won't have to buy as many eggs when I start

my massive holiday baking projects.

I tried my hand at Southern Fried Pie.  Here are two attempts next to my final

all American apple pie.  My husband performed the taste test.

Not quite like his aunt used to make, but still deemed yummy.

Having done this, now I know what I need to do for the next trial.

But, first we've got to dry some more apples...

Our county is one of the "pilot" counties in the state for the California Medical Foundation "Walk With a Doc" program.  I led last weekend's walk in my town, and despite the rain and 38 degree weather, almost a dozen people showed up to walk the almost 2 mile route I had planned.  I brought the dogs which helped keep us at a brisk pace.  All in all pretty successful, and if anything it got me out of the house to exercise.... and, so should you!

Speaking of the dogs, they really do travel well.  We went on a 12 hour car ride to pick up my mother for the holidays.  The dogs slept most of the time.  They behaved well during our pit stops.  And, they didn't get annoying during those "drive thru" meal stops.

 

Then twelve hours back on the road, which leads us to the present.  

Momma's here to spend the holidays with us, and Dillon just loves his Gramma.  

Cheers to you and hoping you're able to spend time with loved ones

during this holiday season!

On Dasher, On Dancer....

I love decorating for Christmas... and my favorite decoration... well, I do have the entire set of these reindeer plates, cups, napkins, etc. from Pottery Barn, but I also have lots of other reindeers, and they all come out for Christmas.

These are just a few of the reindeer from my Christmas tree....

And, this is one of the deer from Williams Sonoma....

Now I just need a house so I can invest in deer for the front lawn... Until then, I just have to enjoy my snowflakes....