Baking Day

I have enjoyed the past two years going to Aunt LaDon's for our Girl's Weekend.  It is always so much more pleasurable to do holiday preparations when you are in good company.  So...I invited Valerie and Amber to come over today for a day of baking.  This way, the girls not only had treats to take home to the boys, but to share with friends and coworkers.  We had a full day, and enjoyed pizza for dinner.  Who wants to cook after baking all day?!



  Valerie, having a knack and schooling for baking, offers tips to Amber to make icing the Pumpkin Cake easier.  It was very tasty. :)



                             High fiving the successes of their baking efforts.



                             A table of treats to share.



               A view from the other end of the table.



                                   Clif enjoying the fruits of our labor.

We were blessed to have a day to share with each other.  I thank God for the opportunity of such fellowship.  Family is so important.  This came to the forefront today after yesterday's news.  We took time to pause and reflect on the families in Connecticut.  Our prayers are with them.

Preparations

Today is the Second Sunday of Advent.  It was an interesting homily given by Fr. Jose.  We in the choir could not contain our laughter because....we were privy to an "inside" story.  Let me explain.  Five of us had a ladies night out this past Friday night to a concert that our choir director was in.  It was called Christmas at the Movies.  We all met here at the house, then I drove.  We had dinner out, then onto the show.  It was a great time.  So what's the inside story you ask?  Well, they wanted to know how come all the Christmas decor was up except for the tree.  I told them that Clif and I have not come to a compromise.  The problem being he got a new glider this past May that is now located in the spot the tree normally goes.  Our living room is much too small for such a big tree.  I gave two options.  Either we get a slim tree, or the glider moves to another room.  It has been since Thanksgiving that we have not been able to reach an agreement.  After today's homily, which by the way was a parable about a husband and wife who were arguing over putting up the tree.  The wife didn't want to because there was not enough room, and wanted a smaller tree.  The husband on the other hand wanted it up, and the furniture could be moved.  The lesson to learn for Advent was "What can you do this Advent to make room for Jesus?"  The message and stories were very good, and I am sure Fr. Jose was wondering what all the laughter in the choir area was about.  Needless to say, the tree is up.  The room is rearranged, yet crowded.  And all is happy in the home. :)



Clif's chair and ottoman are now right by the front door.  He'll have his seat, but it's not in
a good viewing area of the TV.



I have many stuffed animals in the tree.  It makes for good conversation and ice breakers
when guests come to visit.




Thought I'd experiment with the camera I got on vacation and try some close up shots.




I made Amber her stocking this year.  Now that Valerie and Michael are expecting, I am wondering how and where I am going to put the additional stocking.  Good thing I have a year to figure it out.



I had to nestle the Santas next to the kitchen counter this year.  But it works. :)



Yesterday, I was in a creative mood.  I made myself a blanket.  Then feeling successful, I made a couple Christmas presents.  Sshh.  I won't say who they're for or what they are in case you're looking!


My gratitude this week is that I was able to get much accomplished and establish an Advent routine.  Spending quiet time with the Lord is the best way to start the day.  Thank you Lord for Your Love and invitation for a relationship with You.  It is one I truly treasure. :)

Christmas with Aunt LaDon

Last year, Aunt LaDon invited several of her nieces to a Christmas preparation celebration.  We had so much fun last year, that she invited us again this year for the same celebration.  Only this time when we arrived, she had already put up her Christmas decorations.  This left more time for socializing, playing games, and baking.  We had a great time...although we missed you Vicky! :)



We ate so much this weekend.  It seems all we did was eat!  From left to right going counterclockwise around the table:  Diane, Aunt LaDon, Nereida, Sandra, and cousin Michele.  Nereida made oven baked ham and swiss cheese sandwiches on hawaiian bread that were delicious.



Nereida putting finishing touches on her peanut butter/chocolate snowman cookies.



Aunt LaDon stealing a cookie while Nereida is posing for the picture.



Aunt Diane and niece Sandra having their special bonding time.



Michele putting the finishing touches on the table setting.  She fixed a fabulous dinner.



We had grilled shrimp with grilled tomato and mushrooms.  We also had fettucini with a homemade parsley pesto sauce.  As Nereida said after eating all day, "I feel like a busted can of biscuits!"  We all had a good laugh because that is how everyone of us felt. 



Aunt LaDon's friend Joan came to the house to snap a family photo before we sat down to dinner.



We opened presents.



We each received an ornament that is reflective of our personality.  Mine is Queen Nefertiti.



We also received fun serving dishes.


We finished off the weekend by going to Aunt LaDon's Chapel Service.  She sang a solo on one of the verses and did a fabulous job as usual.  Then, she treated us to brunch at the Club.

I was telling Sandra I was disappointed we didn't get to see the otters this year.  Then she looks out the window and says, "Aunt Trish....isn't that an otter on the opposite bank of the pond?"  Sure enough it was.  We went out to try to capture photos.  I was able to get these two before it noticed me, and made cover in the pond.






The otter must be thinking, "oh no....it's this lady again."  Then off to the pond it ran never to be seen again.  But that's okay, because it took me to a happy place. :)

Thank you Lord for a beautiful weekend with food and fellowship with family.  You have supplied us with many Blessing which I truly appreciate.

Thanksgiving 2012

We have much to be thankful for... family, friends, the invitation to be part of God's family, health, etc.  Today we had several family members over to celebrate this great day of thanks for the Blessings God has given us, including the abundance of God's love and freedoms we enjoy in our country.



Barbara and Sandra making the gravy.  Barbara says she made the gravy too dark.  Do you think it could have been because of the sunglasses?!



Michael fried the turkey, and Clif sliced it up when it was cooked.




Michael has that look..."who me?  I didn't sneak any turkey!"  Stephen, "no, he didn't I'll vouch for him."



Sandra and Krista were caught being the real "vultures".



Left clockwise to the right...Sandra, Diane, Barbara, Pete, Jim, Michael, Clif, Stephen, Amber, Grandpa (hiding between Amber and Stephen), Krista.


  
We ate outside in the nippy, windy weather.  I thought the highs were supposed to be in the low 70's.  It felt like the 50's with the wind. 



                        In the background, our winter garden is coming along nicely. 

                                                  Amber with her mom, Lisa.



                          Barbara, Stephen, and Ivan (Amber's stepdad).



Then onto dessert.  We decided to stay inside and close the doors.  We all needed to warm up.
Afterwards, we settled down for an evening of games.  A fun day was had by all. Thank you Lord for a wonderful family. :)

Officer of the Year

The Knights of Columbus in Osceola County honored several public service employees for their dedication/service to the community.  We are proud that Stephen was the recipient of Officer of the Year!  He had already received Trooper of the Month in September for Troop D in Central Florida, as well as several nominations earlier in the year.  The Knights put on a nice Thanksgiving dinner for the nominees and their guests.  The food was delicious, and the celebration was special. 


   
                                    Grandpa,  myself, and Clif



                                            Stephen and Amber



                             Leiutenant Heard giving Stephen his award.



                                   Recipients of various Awards

Fall Campout and then some...

November is a very busy month for us.  I was supposed to fly to Atlanta 2 weekends ago to celebrate my niece's baby shower.  Unfortunately, I caught whatever "bug" was going around in the schools.  I wasn't able to attend, but great pictures were sent to my WiFi picture frame, so I felt I was there.  I was blessed not to have work scheduled for Friday/Monday.  This gave me a full 4 day weekend for recovery which didn't take place until I got an antibiotic on Sunday morning. :(

Then, we celebrated my 50th birthday on Tuesday.  Clif made a delicious steak dinner.  He even baked the cake.  Everything was yummy.

This weekend, we went camping with another couple to Favre Dykes State Park near St. Augustine.  It was overcast most of the time, windy, at times raining, and cool.  But, when you are die hard campers, you deal with the elements, and given a choice, I would rather be cold than hot.  We adventured out on the canoes.  The wind didn't kick up until around 11:00.  So half our time it was really nice, and the other half we had to use our muscles to paddle against the wind.  We were out on the river for 3 hours.  We saw lots of water fowl.  We even saw an osprey with a fish who perched on the branch to eat its lunch.



             Peter and Kim, gliding past us.  We just went under the I-95 overpass near MM298.



If you look closely on the arched branch in front of the brown pine needles, you will see the osprey with its fish.



                                                             An egret. 
We also saw lots of Blue Herons, but they always flew off before I got my camera focused.



We also went hiking to Pellicer Bay (a 2.6 mile roundtrip hike).  In the middle of the trail was a piglet.  We saw 6 wild boar and 8 piglets.  We were grateful they were afraid of us and ran the opposite direction.  Not good for snapping photos, but good that we weren't charged.  Those animals can be MEAN!



 The black shadow between the two tree trunks is an adult boar.  The only shot I could get.  They run way too fast!



We made it to Pellicer Point which overlooks Pellicer Bay. This is a place once inhabited by Native Americans.  As you can see in the background the weather is not to good.  We could hear thunder off in the distance, and you could see rain coming across the bay.  We were 15 minutes from the trail end before it caught up to us and soaked us.  We had fun just the same, and decided it was worth the hike to see the 8 piglets running with their parents.  The way their little ears flopped were just adorable. :)

This week school is out for Thanksgiving break.  I am glad because we are hosting Thanksgiving this year.  It will give me plenty of time to catch up with neglected friendships, and clean the house.  Hopefully, I will have pictures to post of our celebration.  We are expecting around 15 people.

Halloween

 

                                                             Happy Birthday Amber!
                                         She and Stephen spent the evening with her parents.
.                                        Our celebration was on Nov 1.  She had a terrific birthday.
                                         Amber enjoyed being able to celebrate for 2 days straight!


Halloween is my favorite holiday of the year.  The house is decorated, and the candy awaits the kids arriving for their treats.  This is the one day a year where I feel I can truly be myself, and not be criticized for it.  Although I don't dress in costume any more, I enjoyed seeing the kids (and parents) who do.   The kids love coming here because as they get older, they get full sized candy bars (yes, even the parents who are dressed up)!  I also enjoy catching up on the happenings in their lives as they have moved beyond elementary school. This year I was especially touched when 3 teens came by. First, they put on a little skit which made me laugh.  I remembered 2 of them from elementary school (from substitute teaching).  They were excited I remembered their names, and I was relieved when I got them right!  Anyhow, they asked if I would consider teaching in the high school.  They miss me!  I was very moved because how many students remember their substitute teachers?  It is also fun to see kids who are now grown bringing their children to the door.  I was shocked that Megan now has 2 kids, one age 8 and one age 4.  Where has the time gone?



I don't do scary.  This afterall is the eve before All Saints' Day, and 2 days before All Souls' Day. I celebrate by remembering all that have gone before us.  I say special intentions and prayers for each one who is placed in my heart that they are living peacefully in the after life.




Thank you Lord for keeping your children safe and in your loving care. :)