Knock Knock

See this door?

It's the door to my sewing room and it's closed for a reason...

 

I'm working on Christmas gifts!

 

Remember, last year, everyone got table runners like this...

minus the glass of wine, of course...

 

What will it be this year?

 

I'm not telling and

 DO NOT DISTURB!

 

Tee hee, don't you just love Christmas?!?

 

Come back later...

Love,

Jan

O Christmas Tree

Just had to share this story...my 83 year old mother  (who family calls Toots)  claims she's 5 feet tall.  Truth be told, I don't think she was ever that tall. 

She's the kind of woman kids love...they stand back to back with her and then you hear them squeal, "I'm taller than you!".

Every year, I think she loses another inch of height.  She claims, that at 63, I'm just getting taller (I'm 5'1").

To be honest, I am not at all sure that she's legal to ride in a car without a booster seat.  If you ever see a Honda without a driver tooting down the road, it's probably Mom.

In a family of practical jokers, short people are easy victims, just put things high, out of reach.

A few years ago, Tony sent me this:

I think I'll just print it and post it on her fridge!

Love ya Mom!

Time out for HOCKEY!

Let's take a break from all the holiday preparations and take a few minutes for a hockey story...

I love hockey.  It's no secret that I've been a Penguins fan since waaaayyyy back when.  When?  When no one else loved them, I did!

My two favorite all time Penguins (in no particular order) are Joe Mullen and Brian Trottier. 

This past July, the mom of one of Tony's friends called him and told him she had won a tailgate party with Phil Borque and Brian Trottier and invited him to come along.

Was I jealous?  Just a touch...I told Tony that if he got Brian Trottier to call me, I'd give him $50.

He sent me this photo:

 

Oh!!!!!  Brian Trottier's '91 Stanley Cup Ring!!!

 

Ron and I were sitting in the family room, talking when my phone rang.  Caller ID said it was Tony.

 

"Mom," he said, "Hang on."

 

A man comes on the line and says, "Jan, this is Brian Trottier and you owe Tony fifty dollars."

 

What do you say to one of your all time favorite hockey players?  "Oh, I love you!"

 

He never missed a beat..."Jan, we just met, but I love you too!"

 

That's Tony, standing on the left...and yes, by then, I was green with envy...

But a few days later, on my birthday, Tony presented me with this...

Sigh...did I tell you I love hockey?

 

Okay, now back to our Christmas preparation!

 

God bless all y'all,

Jan

 

Bring on Christmas!

Every family has holiday traditions...even Ron's family.  He's had a plastic Santa forty + years.  It's been on the roof top of two of his houses and in the breezeway of his apartment.  Last year he was too sick to deal with him, but this year...

Bring him on, Ron!

 

Ladies and gentlemen, Santa is here!

 

(But please don't forget that

 Jesus is the reason for the Season!)

God bless you all!
Jan

Thanksgiving! We did it!

Ahhhh, I now have an even greater respect for my mom, who at 80-something still manages to pull off family holiday functions...she even claimed Christmas Eve again this year.  I am happy to report that I did manage to pull Thanksgiving '14 off without too much stress (hah!)...

 

I started by sitting down and  planning...

 

 

Made lists, checked them twice thrice, seventy two times...set the table

 and ordered Ron not to go near the dining room...

 

 

 

I agonized over the menu, worried about roasting a turkey for the first time and made Linda a nervous wreck!

 

 

 

 

The turkey was delicious...

 

 

The company superb...

 

 

 

I sat down my camera, gave the blessing and meant EVERY WORD of it.

 

We ate, laughed, sat back down for dessert and games...

 

I am truly blessed!

 

Thanks for stopping by,

God bless you,

Jan

 

I just thought of something else

Let me be honest, don't believe what blogger says as far as what time I am posting.  It is 4:32 AM and I'm awake, surfing the 'net.  Know why?  Tomorrow in a few hours my kids are coming here for a turkey dinner.  Everyone is contributing something...Ashley is bringing mashed potatoes, Catherine is making the traditional green bean casserole.  Vicky has been promoted from 'paper products' to tossed salad and Tony is now taking her place, but since we don't need paper products, he has been assigned  wine.

 

Who will be making the turkey?  That would be moi!

 

Now, the turkey is defrosted in the fridge, we know it will fit in the roasting pan which will fit in the over...but that's as far as it goes.  I have never really cooked a turkey before.

 

Well, actually, I did make one once, but that was 40+ years ago and not only did I cook it with the giblets in the bag in the turkey, but I burned the turkey.

 

So, here I am, looking for the best way to make a turkey.  There are 250,000 recipes online.  Time is running out, I must choose.

 

I'll let you know how it goes.

 

Until then, I thought of one more reason I am thankful. 

My Roomba. 

 

We have hardwood floors AND a dog.  She sheds.  The Roomba wanders from room to room, sucking up dog hair and...

 

 

Charging cables...

 

Does it work?  Yeah, but even if it didn't, it's fun to have around.  I've seen the YouTube videos of the cat riding the Roomba, but Linda won't even try it.

 

Well, Ron just announced that I need to get a few hours sleep.

 

Wish me luck?

 

Gobble gobble and God bless!

Jan

 

More thanks?

Ever since my kids became adults and were adopted by the families of their significant others...or in plain words, ever since they had somewhere else to go on holidays, we celebrate most holidays on alternative dates.  We do Easter either the week before or the week after, we do Thanksgiving the Sunday after...the only one I claim is Christmas Eve...

 

So, on Thanksgiving this year, Ron and I were invited to eat with Noelle, Tony, Noelle's mom, Becky and her grandmother, Dolores while everyone else had dinner elsewhere.  Noelle and Tony have only been dating a short time, but Noelle fit into our family like she had been there for years.  Her mom and grandmother felt like old friends in no time!  We not only sat at the table long after we had devoured the delicious food, but we ended back at the table later for a delayed dessert.  What fun!

 

I wish I could say I took tons of photos...but this is all I have of the food...

 

Noelle and her mother, carving the turkey...

 

 

And it was as good as it looks!

 

 

Afterwards, Becky told us that it was a family tradition to give Noelle a gift on Thanksgiving...

 

 

She gave them a Gingerbread House kit!

 

 

All too soon, it was time to go.  As we were leaving, we got a text from Andy saying the roads were getting bad.  It was snowwwwwingggggggg!

 

I LOVE snow!  The ride home was uneventful and soon after we got home, Ron declared the turkey was really working...he headed to bed.  Linda and I sat up to watch Christmas movies and watch the snow.  Before bed, I looked out the living room window...

 

 

Of course, the fact that it was also garbage night detracted from the scene...

 

So I looked out the back doors...

 

 

Did I mention that I LOVE snow?

 

Did I ever tell you that I love waking in my bedroom and looking out the bedroom window.  It always makes me feel like I'm sleeping in a tree house...today was no exception.  I woke to this...

 

 

Oh goodness, isn't it beautiful?

 

Linda and I came down to make coffee...

 

 

It's like a Winter Wonder Land out there!

 

Since my family dinner is Sunday, and everyone is coming here...I may 'disappear' again, I have much to do,  but fear not, Tony has promised that he will keep me on task.  I'll be back!

 

Until then, remember that God loves you and so do I!

 

Peace and love,

Jan

Ding dong

Think about this:  Yesterday afternoon, Linda wanted to go out.  We were getting ready to leave, so I put her out on the tie-out on the front porch where she proceeded to eat all the snow off the porch.

I came inside and was busy in the kitchen when I heard the 'ding dong' of the door bell.

We have only one door bell, at the front door, so I went to answer it, wondering why Linda did not bark.  She was sitting there, happy to see me.  There was no one around.
Ron came to the door to see who was there and I explained that I didn't see anyone but the dog.  He went out and walked around the house to see if perhaps someone had walked around to the back door.

No one was there.

Now we are logical people...we came to the conclusion that either we were both hearing things, and the same thing at that, or someone was playing a prank on us, OR Linda was ringing the door bell.

Hmmmmmm...

Of course, Linda is the smartest and cutest dog on the planet...it had to be her, playing tricks on us.

Still....we wondered....

We were driving down the turnpike, on our way to meet Tony and Noelle for dinner when we heard it again...ding dong!

Yes. Sometime in the past 24 hours, I managed to change my text tone to DING DONG!

Now tell me...who is the ding dong?

Okay...things to do, snow to enjoy!
Be a blessing to someone today...

God bless YOU!
Jan

Really quick question...

Do you know these people?

I had a bunch of SD cards on my desk.  I was checking them out and found these people on one of them.  Somehow, somewhere, I got someone else's SD card...

Anyone know who it is (don't even want to speculate on HOW I got it)?

Thanks, thanks and more thanks!

 

 

I have so many reasons to be giving thanks this year; perhaps if I share my partial list, I can also get you current on all the wonderful things going on in my life...

 

So, in no particular order, Let me share with you:

 

The hubster and his newly forged friendship with Linda Lou:

 

 

 

I'm thankful I can still, at the ripe old age of 63, run AND compete:

 

 

 

And occasionally win:

 

 

And be the proud mother of a winner as well:

 

 

This was the year I got a wonderful Father's Day gift from Andy and Ashley:

 

 

 

 

 

Yes!  it's a

 

BOY!!!

He'll be here mid-February!!!!!

 

There is the new home with enough bedrooms for grandchildren to visit:

 

 

A wonderful patio in the back:

 

 

AND a dressing room for all my shoes!

 

.

 

I'm thankful for that darn birthday fairy

 

and the opportunity to celebrate my mom's 83rd birthday!

 

 

We celebrated Ashley's graduation from nursing school...

 

 

Of course, it's a no-brainer to remember and be thankful for time on the river...

 

 

 

And bicycle rides!

 

 

Ron and I got to go all kinds of neat places, like Thousand Islands,

Atlantic City, Texas and Florida...

And Boston!

 

 

 

As always and forever, I'm thankful for:

 

 Andy, Vicky, Michael and Tony

 

 

 Michael and Catherine

 

 

Jamie and Vicky

 

 

Andy and Ashley

 

 

Tony and Noelle

Whew!  And to think, that's just a partial list...

I could go on and on and on!

 

Also, I'm so thankful for friends and family who take time to visit my blog!

 

Have a safe and blessed Thanksgiving...

I'll be back soon!

Promise!

 

Love,

Jan

 

Wow, this is taking forever!

This story is really yesterday's news, I want to get you caught up to the present, so I'm about to venture into the Cliff's Notes version of the past year...ready?

I said YOU BET YOUR BIPPY to the question he asked (while on one knee) and he slipped this little gem on my finger...

 

 

I know!  It's a beauty, isn't it?  I liked it so much, and it sparkled so beautifully, that while I was driving, I kept staring at it with my hand on the wheel.  Trust me, diamonds are much more dangerous than texting...at least in my case!

 It was November and even though it was short notice, we began to make arrangements for late February.  We talked about clothes, food, the who-what-how stuff...It was kinda cool!

Enter those joy stealers:  Health and Kids...

We were told in October that Ron needed to have his left knee replaced.  He looked frantic and I assured him I'd help him, that he had lots of support...

The surgery date was set for December 9.  We figured that would give him time to heal before the big day.  It would also give us time to find a new place to live.  I was living in my house with Tony, he was living in an apartment 40 miles away.  We wanted to be closer....

The announcement of our engagement was not taken well by his family, from his former in laws to two of his kids.  They were real joy stealers, absolute poop heads, so what was supposed to be a joyous occasion, joining the two families, ended up being a very private (as in NO family) ceremony only a few days before the knee replacement surgery.  A honeymoon was planned for a few weeks after that.

Again, long story short, the surgeon (who was adorably cute AND younger than the socks I was wearing) told us that roughly 1% of the people who had knee replacements experienced complications.  My husband, the over achiever, had not one, not two but THREE complications!  I tell people we spent our honeymoon on the 10th floor of Allegheny General Hospital. 

After two separate hospitalizations and three surgeries, I'm thrilled to say he's fine...even better than fine. 

We  bought a huge house in a wonderful plan of homes about 2 miles from Andy and Tony (who bought the house we were living in).  Linda is here with us, Winnie, the Basset Hound, is with Tony and with sadness, I'll tell you that we lost Bill about six weeks ago from Osteosarcoma. 

My kids are happy that we are close by, we have room to have everyone get together, including room for the ping pong table in the basement.  Just last Sunday we celebrated Taco Night here with a house full of friends and family. 

Is ANY of this making sense?  Can you, as the boys say, pick up what I'm putting down?  If you are more confused than ever now, please shoot me an email ( redsockmama at g mail dot com) and tell me I'm babbling.  I want to get you caught up to today 'cause I have so much to tell you, and I can't wait!

Soooooooo, without further fuss and fidgets, I'm going to bed, to dream of all kinds of silly things (Ron says I sometimes giggle in my sleep).  I'll mention all of you in my prayers...and will see you soon.

Now, get yourself to sleep.
God bless you,
Jan

Part two?

He seemed concerned that I would have to drive far to meet him.  He lived 40 miles from me.  He chose a restaurant close to my house.

Mind you..I haven't dated since 1985.  I was so nervous!  Times have changed, I didn't even know if I should plan on paying for my own lunch, so I stopped at the ATM on the way to meet him for cash!

All that worry for nothing!  He turned out to be a perfect gentleman, so easy to talk to, we spent two hours over lunch.  I remember thinking at some point, "I hope he asks me to go out again!"

He did!

We found lots to do, from plays to trips to the casino for dinner...he had a list of restaurants to try, things to see. 

I knew that he had long before we met, planned to go to Vegas for a week with his son, daughter-in-law and grand children.  They had a condo, plane tickets, and plans. I was thrilled when they invited me to go too!

It was my first trip to Vegas (all I can say is WOW!), and we even squeezed a trip to the Grand Canyon, which I had only seen from an airplane (Double wow!). 

Through it all, we always found things to talk about...

It was during a trip through West Virginia on a train excursion, that we first talked about getting married.  I thought that when you were old (like us) and had been married before (like us), you talked about it, and then you got married.

Not so.  The next day he asked about my preference in engagement rings(!) and a few days later, we walked into a jewelry store to look at settings.  I had a ball trying on all the rings in the show case, but there were details...DETAILS! 

First he had to ask my family (my kids and MY MOM) then he had to choose a diamond to put in the setting I had chosen...finally all the details came together...and YES!!! he got down on one knee and...

Wow!

Hey. gotta run, more later?
God bless YOU
Jan

So here's how it happened...

Guess you're waiting for the rest of the story, right?  Without mixing in any of the other family details, here's the scoop...

About a year after Mark died, my BFF in all the world, came to me and said, "When you are ready, I know a GREAT guy.  He's handsome, charming and all alone.  Let me know if and when I can give him your number."

About a month later, my BFF, Nancy, came to me and said, "When you are ready, I know a GREAT guy.  He's handsome, charming and all alone.  Let me know if and when I can give him your number."

The following week...and the week after that...you get the picture?

One day, I said...okay!

A few weeks go by, I hear nothing.  Then I dreamed he married Nancy's cousin, Connie.  I woke up and  thought it was a sign.  Who cares?  I'm perfectly okay alone, I have a full and good life, I have friends and family, I have faith, dogs, memories and plans.  Who needs a stinkin' date.  Right?

One Tuesday night, I'm on my way to the mall when my phone rings.  I don't recognize the number, so I let it go to voice mail.  Later I listen.  It's HIM!  He asks me to call him back. 

I drink three cups of coffee and eat chocolate.  I'm ready.  I call him. 

One ringy dingy.
Two ringy dingy.
Three ringy dingy...

He answers!  I hear lots of noise in the background.  He says, "Let me turn down the hockey game."

Hockey game?  He likes hockey?  HE LIKES HOCKEY!  Of course I'll meet him for lunch on Saturday!

(to be continued)

But first...

 

Ten years ago, I held my dad's hand and said good bye. He left behind many to miss him, but also some wonderful memories...like this one...

Me, my sister Carol, who died in 1999, and my dad, who has been gone for ten years now.  I have wonderful memories, but I miss them something fierce! 

I'll see you both again, before too long.  In the mean time, I know Daddy is repairing those pearly gates with duct tape and staples.

 

You ain't gonna believe this...

I don't know how to break the news gently...

 

Meet the new Mr.