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Sunday, December 28, 2014

Random Thoughts


  1. A couple of weeks ago I found this bear in the auction trash.  Just look at that face!  I couldn't let him go in the dumpster. He's about 2 feet tall when he stands up.  He's been sitting in my studio watching me with those soulful eyes as I packaged up sales ever since.  I've found myself talking to him like I talk to house plants. ha.  I didn't know what I was going to do with him when I brought him home, but I think he's going to stay with me.  The studio needs a teddy, I'm thinking!  Now that the busyness of the season is finished, I'm going to give him a bath and wash his little sweater.
  2. We're in that lovely lull after Christmas at our house.  The men are home from their day program and work.  I love that quiet, peaceful and contented time after a whirlwind 4 weeks of parties, concerts, programs, decorating, shopping, wrapping and cooking.  We have leftovers to nibble on, a puzzle going on the dining room table, and minimal laundry because we're staying in our jammies.  Sigh.  Nice.
  3. I got a tripod and new wide angle lens for my camera from the mister.  I'll be able to take a selfie showing more than my head and neck! haha. (from the tripod, not the wide angle lens, in case you were confused. hahaha)  I took a sunset photo last night and could almost take the whole street in one shot with that lens.  Pretty fun! I'm curious if taking a picture of the moon will be easier on a tripod, too.
  4. We did a few new things on Christmas Day that were wonderful and became instant traditions.  One was the steak/crab leg meal instead of the usual ham/mashed potato menu.  Not only was it easier to prepare, but it was such a nice change.  I didn't have any crackers or picks for seafood, so we shared a nutcracker and tools I had.  I'll have to shop for some seafood sets this year.  Maybe some little gadgets that keep your melted butter warm, too.  Do they make such things?  
  5. The other new thing was to watch the movie Elf.  The Mister and I had not seen it before.  Very fun.  Very sweet.  Instant tradition...right up there with my favorite Christmas Carol with Alastair Sim.  I couldn't find my DVD of Alastair but we got lucky and found a marathon of that movie playing all day Christmas Day on TV. I've now had my fill of Scrooge until next year. haha.
  6. But my favorite memories of this entire Christmas were of Alex.  I have photos and I'll make it another post since Pat is going to comment already that "Geez, you're a blabbering long winded girl today!" haha.  I usually just show pictures with minimal chat, so you must indulge me once in a while as I ramble a bit!
Hope you all had a nice Christmas and are
also enjoying that contented lull of
peace and quiet that comes after.
I also hope you were on the Nice List
and didn't get any coal!



52 comments:

  1. I loved your blathering! And, I too, love the week between Christmas and New Year. Been just working on things at my leisure and enjoying being with husband, with nothing special to do and no where to go for a few days. Then we head to New York to spend New Year's with my youngest son and his family. We stopped doing the traditional turkey, and all the sides at Christmas too a couple of years ago. Now I make a simple pasta, cream sauce dish , with a huge spinach salad, special cheese breads and fruit of some sort and a champagne punch. The serving table is set with all my silver and it's so pretty. It's so much easier, economical and everyone loves the dish I prepare. My sisters bring all the desserts. It's great! Have a happy happy New Year Betsy. xo

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    1. Your new Christmas meal sounds wonderful! I like new traditions...some of the old ones just need to go if we don't really enjoy them and feel stuck because it's 'tradition'. I can just see your table set with all of your silver...I'm sure it was gorgeous! Hope you have a lovely time in NY, for new year's, too!

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  2. You can ramble all you want...I love your chit chat and stories. Teddy is just adorable and will be so happy in his new home. Your dinner sounds so good. Can't wait to see you in wide lenses HaHa...I'm looking forward to more Betsy...even though your head and neck are lovely as are your toes. Now we get the in between. Sounds like a lazy hazy days after Christmas. I couldn't shake my cold and was in bed most of yesterday...but feeling b back to my old self today.

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    1. Lots of people I know aren't feeling well! It's either a head cold or the stomach flu! Yikes! Glad you're back to your lovely self today! Hopefully as we hibernate, all the germs will leave the area! Isn't Teddy sweet? I wonder how he'll like a spin in the washer. haha.

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  3. Oh - I am in love with Studio Bear - very handsome. I collect bears... what DON'T I collect (!) and they call out to me when I am out and about. It is very hard to refuse a bear when he/she calls out to you.
    Steak and crab legs - yum - that could be a great tradition. We don't do the big turkey dinner any more. We have a bunch of hors d'oeuvres, dips, cheeses, crudités, pickles, crackers, smoked oysters, egg salad, pigs in a blanket - that type of thing. Everyone can graze as they choose and then there is usually butter tarts or mince meat tarts, and cheesecake for dessert.
    I am glad you are spending some down time with your men and lady.
    Oh... and I love those two little birdies on the birdbath beside Mr. Bear - too sweet!
    AND - I love your "blathering." Ignore Pat! :-)

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    1. Yes, it's hard to resist plants and dishes that call out to us, but when they have eyes that look at you, it's all over...might as well not resist!
      Did you have your family Christmas today? I love your menu....that kind of thing is my favorite and when my extended family used to get together that is what we would do....lots of scrumptious hors d'oeuvres to nibble on all through the day.

      Pat...Pat who? (how's that?. ha.)

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    2. Well, unfortunately, I am still not 100% so we are crossing our fingers for tomorrow! Mom and Dad are feeling a bit better so I am the one holding things up, but they want me to feel up to it, so we will wait and see. We are in a holding pattern for Christmas - ha!

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    3. I hope you feel much, much better tomorrow! I think I'd rather wait, too, instead of dragging through the day and not really enjoying it. At least postponing it works for all of you without schedules getting in the way.

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    4. Yes it does... and thank you. :-)

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    5. I love your new avatar! Who's the artist?

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    6. Thank you! She is called "Fazio's Mistress (Aurelia)" by Dante Gabriel Rossetti - I love Rossetti.

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    7. A curly red head...how appropriate!

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  4. I normally spend the Christmas period alone, but this year my daughter and her husband called to say they would call in on Christmas day lunchtime for some nibbles and a coffee. I decided to surprise them with something more substantial. I made a warm salmon Niçoise salad, with Boulangère potatoes on the side, followed by crème brûlée tartlets. I just hope that it will inspire them to visit me more often in the future, if so then this will be my new tradition!

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    1. Shame, they only stopped long enough to eat the goodies then they were gone. Didn't even wash the dishes for me. . . . .

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    2. What a spiffing idea! I hope it works! I know I wouldn't be able to resist that meal! New traditions are good for us, I think. I was needing some new ones!

      I've never made creme brulee tartlets. I need one of those little kitchen torches...or do you just slide them under the broiler?

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    3. In time maybe they'll help with the dishes. They don't have manners like their father, I see!

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    4. Yes, I have a little flame-thrower, and lots of other gadgets as well.

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    5. Spiffing? Are you taking the words out of my mouth, young lady?

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    6. Oh, yes, you are! . . . . .I can see this is going to be a long night. . . .*sigh*

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    7. Shall we call a truce until morning?

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  5. Like the Teddy very much . . . .
    . . . and glad you are enjoying the holiday period . . . . I like Alistair Sim . . . :)

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    1. He's pretty cute, isn't he? (teddy, not alastair. ha.)

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  6. I love your new teddy bear! It sounds like you had a wonderful Christmas!
    Sending blessings for a wonderful and healthy New Year! =)

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    1. Thank you, Melissa...and same wishes back to you! 2015...a fresh new blank slate!

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  7. lol blathering on you say
    I may go with blabbering at my bay
    But go to it indeed
    As then a little fun can take seed haha

    Elf is a great film indeed
    Good one to watch each year at ones feed
    That and Die Hard of course
    Bad guys get no remorse haha
    Just relaxing about is as nice as can be
    Plus I have to do nadda while at the other sea

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    1. I did say blabbering...look again.
      Blatherling doesn't sound like you, even with gin. haha.
      Elf was a hit indeed
      and fun to watch as a newbie.
      Lazy bum at the other sea?
      You deserve it, I would agree!

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    2. Lynn said blathering, now I see
      where you got that idea of me.

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    3. Ahhh I swear I saw blathering there
      Must be the country air lol
      But then saw Lynn too
      There at your zoo
      Yep, lazy as can be
      Plus the internet sucks at this sea
      So with 6 months or so ahead
      I can just laze around in bed

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    4. Only six months? You must be slipping!
      Better get some coffee and start sipping!
      Then go on a caffeine chat,
      producing a hundred posts just like that.
      haha.

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    5. lol have to write in there somewhere
      Most I've done in a day is 24 for that one day at my lair

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    6. 24?????? Caffeine is not needed by you.
      That is insane...it's true.

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  8. I love when you ramble...when you have a big family of course you ramble. Love the new traditions...we are not big "group" movie watchers, in fact, hubby and daughter had a marathon Criminal Minds weekend. Ugh!

    Love the seafood dinner. I know Italians seem to love that Christmas Eve (my sister was married to a guy that had really traditional dinners like this). I hope you get the tools...anything easier is good!

    Jane x

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    1. You are the queen of rambling, my dear! :) Nobody can do it better than you! ha. Criminal Minds...you know, I loved that show!

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  9. Replies
    1. I know...isn't he sweet? I think I'll wash him up today.

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  10. I also enjoy your rambling, and I love an animal rescue story too.
    The bear is too cute to throw in the trash. Just think how sad that would be!
    Now I see a story beginning to take shape....

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    1. Animal rescue seems to be my specialty. ....stuffed or breathing, it doesn't matter. Lol.

      It would make a very cute story!

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  11. Hi Betsy - does Teddy have a name? He's definitely special ... and so I'm glad you saved him ...he'll be happy with you, your mumblings, the animules (many and varied and the birdies) ... Excellent prezzies from the Mister ... and food - sounds good .. heated plate warmers would be one way of keep the butter melted, or a fondue set ... Looking forward to seeing the Alex mix ... Have a happy few last days of 2014 ... Alastair Sim = yes, Elf - no thank you!! No time for scroogeing around ... cheers and hope you get a few more relaxing moments ... Hilary

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    1. No name...just Teddy. I had a cat named Teddy once...Theodore, really.

      No time for scroogeing around? But Alastair IS Scrooge! Lol..

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  12. I love your cute teddy and his adorable sweater. It sounds like you all had a wonderful Christmas. We did also, but now all are sick..so I'm in my jammies and drinking hot alka seltzer hoping for a recoup and maybe a fresh start in the morning. We love Elf, too..I'm kind of missing all those Hallmark Christmas movies..I can't find anything decent to watch on tv, so I'm dreaming over at Pinterest! LOL!
    '

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    1. I spent a whole day recently in Pinterest. Totally wonderful!

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    2. I don't think I follow you! I'll have to find you there!

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  13. Alistair Sim is the only Scrooge I will watch!
    My boyfriend PVR'd it for me Christmas Eve as we were out!
    Watched it before bed Christmas Eve!
    Your Teddy looks right at home with you....
    Cheers!
    Linda :o)

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    1. Do you cry at the end? I always do, even after all these years. When he goes to his nephew's house is the best part.

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  14. Nice that you got a new teddy bear for your studio.

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    1. Yeah, I lost my favorite one earlier this year....

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I'm serving coffee! Stay and chat!
And no awards, please! Your comments are my awards!