Happy Thanksgiving...

Well, Thanksgiving arrived at last, I don't like that is so late this year...Christmas is coming way too fast! Michael made it down from Ironwood on Sunday with his puppy-Bruno. Its been fun watching him and Molly have fun in the snow, oh yeah, did I mention we had about an 8" snowstorm Monday-Tuesday???

Our Thanksgiving dinner was wonderful (if I do sayso myself :) All the work cleaning and painting and moving furniture was well worth it. I forgot to take a "before" photo of the table setting...so here's one of the "after" I got to use my infamous chandelier! we hung it from the big beam across the living room, I borrowed a banquet table from the hall and ta-da - instant dining room! We had 3 couples from church over, so 9 for dinner. I managed to get everything done on time...we had too much food - but I'm into the left overs so it's all good!

Michael John stayed until yesterday, he called today from Mason, all is well there. They went to a communtiy dinner there. We went to one at our Parrish today, we all pitched in and made turkeys, and the whole thing, lots of salads donated and pies, cakes etc...we served about a 100 people and did deliveries for about 10 more. Its a good thing.

I hope everyone's day was filled with blessings and the awesome smells of dinner, lots of friends and family around. Its hard to believe K&J will be married 33 years on Friday. Seems like yesterday sometimes and then it seems like a lifetime ago....

We have so much to be Thankful for. It's been a tough year...but we're still standing, we're still able and somewhat healthy. There are so many people that have so much less than we do, and are struggling because of no job, or credit crunching...utilities not paid, I complain, but I really have nothing to complain about. When things get tough like this, it makes you sit back and not only appreciate what you have, but it makes you want to simplify your life. Its time to get rid of the excess and concentrate on quality not quanity.

I wish my hands would stop aching, my trigger finger is back and the rest of my hand is just so sore. Noticing my body wearing out really sucks.

Looking forward to the holidays, seeing everyone....and the new year.

November Daze

Well its here again! November...the month where the "witch of November" comes early...that time of the year when you thing about the Edmund Fitzgerald, storms on the big lakes, snow...opening day...Veterans Day..."falling back" (never makes sense to me) cold full moon nights when you hear coyotes in the woods...and of course Thanksgiving...craft shows, pondering what gifts to get or make or even if its a possibility. On the days that are gray and dreary, days that you light candles, make soup and lay around in flannel jamies all day, I've been reading. Reading like a nut. My friend Karen, always has great books and reads as much if not more than I do, so I always take her advice on good reads. This month I've been reading Stephanie Meyers books Twilight, new Moon,Eclipse, breaking dawn... the best set of books I've read in a long time. They are well written, spooky, romantic, suspenseful...I am looking forward to seeing the movie of the first book on the 25th. They are not as "deep" as Ann Rice's version of the vampire saga, but set in more believable way...If you get a chance, check them out.

I also just got finished reading a remarkable book that Karen gave me. I took a break between the 3rd and 4th Meyers books...its called "The Shack" . It is truly a remarkable work. its fiction, but as believable as the Di Vinci Code, and more heart warming, and heart-breaking. Its a story for our times. I want to give copies of it to everyone I know...it puts so much in perspective. But, I need to quantify my statements here, I know what people are going to say...she's really gone off the deep end here with all the God stuff...then ok, I've jumped off head first. Its a story about a man whose daughter was taken and murdered, he's a total wreck, and lives with a "Deep Sadness" . All I can say is its worth the little time it will take to read it, and if you are not affected by it, I'll be surprised. I've seen it at Hallmark stores, and every other place that sells books. A comparison to "The Pilgrims Pride" was made. I find that interesting since I can't remember what that is about...

November will also bring a visit from Michael-John, and Bruno. We are very excited about the visit since we didn't think we'd see him until after Christmas. He's coming down on the 24th, bringing Bruno with him. We're having our family Thanksgiving dinner on the 25th...he's leaving Bruno with us so he can go to Mason and visit his mother and spend Thanksgiving with her this year. We'll be puppy sitting...should be a real riot having Molly, Bruno and the 2 cats! then he'll be back to spend some more time with us before heading back to the Great White North...I'm still trying to figure out when I can take a trip downstate, we are back to one vehicle since Mike's truck has bad brakes and we don't have the extra to get it fixed. I'll get it in there somehow. I'm also working my little candle business. Just had two great parties and its restored my faith in my ability to do this. Its such nice stuff...I'm also going to do a craft show this year, we have "Christmas in the Village" the weekend of the 5-6th of December. I'm going to sell my little Christmas trees, book marks, a few other things some friends want to sell. So wish me luck, its my Christmas money so I need to sell all of the stuff I make!

I've been trying to get used to my CPAP machine, some nights its a breeze (lol) and others I fight with the stupid thing. I do feel better. I went to the eye doc's to have my glaucoma checked, my pressures are down to 20 so as long as I keep up my drops that should keep it away for a while...everything else is fine, a few floaters, my retina looks good, optic nerve looks good...my vision hasn't changed much - nothing more we can do about my glasses, I just have to learn to live with it. I am going to try the new multi-vision contacts out, he's ordering me a free trial pr. so we'll see what happens.

All in all, life is good. we're broke, but happy, the leaves are all blown off the front, so it looks really good (for a few days anyway) most of the trees are finally bare...waiting for a blanket of white to put everything else to sleep...