Kindle cover

I made a temporary cover for my new Kindle Fire.

It's just a fleece sleeve.  It ended up being way too long.  I had originally intended for the top to fold over just a few inches and then have the loop hook over a button.  Well, it's about twice as long as it needs to be, so for now I'm just wrapping it around itself and putting a rubber band on it to hold it together!  Nothing fancy, but it should help save the device from any scratches.

I have a Nook that I have loved for years, and really like Barnes and Noble.  I did put the Nook App on the Kindle and intend to continue to use B&N as much as I can.  I just wasn't sure of the Nook's future and didn't want to get a device that may be phased out.  Although, aren't all electronic devices 'phased out' within six months of their introduction?  sigh.

My "bling"

The kids ordered me a new wallet for Christmas.  They got it off the internet and thought that the design was embroidered.  When it came, it was all raised metal and rhinestones!  They were a bit hesitant to give it to me, but when they did, I fell in love with it!  Hey, even moms need a little bling in their lives...

Now, if I could just fill it with money.  haha.

Happiness is

a puppy in the house!

I'm still here

Had a wonderful time off over the Christmas Holiday.  Visited with family and friends.  Yesterday we celebrated Nick's birthday.  Never too old to blow out candles...

Ended up making a couple batches of bread in jars.  The first batch was banana nut bread and the second batch was pumpkin nut and raisins.  Both turned out pretty good.

Have one more recipe to try in the jars if I get time.  It's a recipe for apple cake that I think will work.

Christmas Lights

Have you ever noticed there are many different styles of decorating outside for Christmas?

There are those who will line their windows and the roofline of their house with strands of lights and call it good.  Some may use all one color, some may use icicle lights or large, old fashioned bulbs (my favorite), but basically it's the same type of decorating. 

There are the lawn ornament type of decorators.  Lighted reindeer, moving and stationary, and trees created by stringing lights down, teepee fashion, from a pole. 

Then there is the inflatable category.  Oh, what person created these monstrosities, I don't know, but at this time of year you can't go down the street without seeing a waving Santa or snowman, lit from inside.  In our little corner of the world there is an inflatable snowman that is actually two stories tall.  It reminds me of a used car lot gorilla....

We have one line of the old fashioned, large bulb lights going all the way around our fence, and two solar powered lights with Santa and a snowman on either side of the sidewalk leading to our front door.  I would have liked to have done more, but this was enough.  What I like is that you can see the lights on the fence several blocks away when you cross the railroad tracks.

Reflections

Maybe it's the season.  Maybe it was the music on the radio.  Either way, I was driving home from work today, after making several stops, and a song that always gets to me starts playing. 

There I was, close to my house, with a trunk full of groceries and presents, forming a blog post in my mind about Christmas lights, and Feed the World starts playing.  I couldn't help but think how blessed I am.  I have a family that is healthy and happy, and employed.  We don't have everything we want, but we have everything we need.  Vehicles that run.  Warm beds to sleep in at night.  Food on the table.  Presents under the Christmas Tree.

So many people in the world aren't as fortunate.  Something to be thankful for and try and remember, especially when we are trying to find those last minute gifts and fighting the crowds in the stores.

Every single person reading this post is blessed in many ways.  Count them up, folks.  It will make you feel better about things that have been bothering you.  Promise.

Great Weekend!

Over the weekend we went to visit family.  Had a great time!  Good food, lots of laughter, and presents!  Here's a pic of Mom's tree.

And a close up of underneath the tree...

Addy seemed to think that she should be laying under the tree at all times!  Everyone just cracked up about it.  She was a good dog the whole trip.  We were very pleased.

Mom is still using the tree skirt I made her several years ago!

Haven't been online much from home.  Lousy internet has been out over a week.  Doing a dance with the provider right now to get them out to fix it.  Not sure who is going to win.... haha.  Seriously, if they don't come fix it soon, we are just going to change providers.

Busy Time of Year

Last night I made MORE cookies....  Another pan of wonder bars and a batch of chocolate chip raisin cookies.  I think I might be done baking cookies for a while...

Yesterday I had to run over to Nick's apartment.  I snapped this pic of the front of his building.

I may have shown a picture of the building before, but it is such a beautiful piece of architecture, it bears repeating.  Can you see the Elk head mounted in the middle, above the steps?  It used to be an Elk's Lodge!  In fact, they call the building the Elk Tower Apartments.

Isn't this little ornament cute?  Johanna stopped by one day while I was at work and dug this little guy out of the ornaments.  She hung him in the doorway of the kitchen.  He's like a s'more playing the guitar!

Getting into the Spirit

This was the view out my front window when I was driving to work (I was stopped at a stop sign).  There had been a light dusting of snow overnight and it was still flurrying a bit.  Kinda helps put me in the Christmas Spirit!

I finished binding and labeling the Roses in the Snow quilt for Mom.  That's a load off my mind.  I think she will be pleased with it.

Made a batch of chocolate covered peanut butter balls yesterday.  Done with the candy making now.  Tonight I want to make a pan of those bar cookies again and some chocolate chip cookies.  Then I will be done baking until next week.

Cookie monster

Cookies, cookies, cookies!  Yesterday I baked after I got home from work.  I made six and a half dozen Amish Sugar Cookies and a pan of Wonder Bars.  This is just a start to all the baking I have yet to do.

I have also been making homemade candy.  I made homemade turtles, mixed nut clusters, and cashew clusters.

Oh, and I want to make some peanut butter balls.  And next week I would like to make some cakes in a jar to send to my uncle in California.

Maybe I need to clone myself....  haha.