Duker-day...New Year's Resolutions

Duke here. My mom apologizes for not being around here much this week. She says maybe one of her New Year's resolutions should be to have a blog schedule and stick with it.

Me? I've made a couple of resolutions. And they're simple and completely doable! Here goes:

• Eat more treats.
• Take more naps.
• Get petted, rubbed and scratched more.
• Play more blue ball (I do need the exercise!).

Should be no problem, right? Happy New Year to all my human and/or furry friends!

Monday's Musings (on Tuesday)...Exhausted

That's what I am! Just dragging. It's silly really since we had a very laid back Christmas Eve, Christmas and day after Christmas celebration. This morning we were up bright and early because my daughter had to go in to have minor surgery on her elbow. She has cubital tunnel syndrome which is similar to carpal tunnel, except that it affects the elbow instead of the wrist. All went well and we were back home in no time. She's been spending the afternoon resting, elevating and watching Bones. I took a nap (and felt no guilt whatsoever). My knee has been hurting since yesterday so that was a good excuse! :-)

So, that's what's been going on in our neck of the woods. Tomorrow, I'll share a couple of pictures from Christmas Day. We didn't do anything special, but I enjoyed time spent with my family and that is special enough for me.

Taking it easy,

Merry Christmas to all!

Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better thruout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time. 
~Laura Ingalls Wilder

Merry Christmas to all!

Duker-day...Christmas Eve

Duke here. I've been wondering what's up with today. It's Duker-day and Christmas Eve. Does that mean I miss my regular blogging day? No, not necessarily.

Well, here's what's up...

My mom just now came into the living room to find me staring at the fireplace mantle.
Why?

Here's why.
Need a closer look?

These have magically appeared on the mantle and I know, I just know, that one is for me!

I'm not sure if I can wait till tomorrow!

*Laura here. I walked into the living room to find Duke staring at the mantle. I didn't know that Jim had put those "gifts" up there and Duke was not in the room when he put them there. They are indeed for Duke and Sosha. And somehow Duke knows that!

Christmas Eve and My Babies

My babies are long grown and mostly moved out of the nest, but I hold these memories in my heart...

Christmas - 1980 - Baby Jamie (5 mos. old) with Santa

Christmas - 1989 - Baby Jon (9 mos. old) and Big Sister Jamie (9 yrs. old)
and I'm quite certain that Jon only agreed to sit on Santa's lap because his Dot was with him.
*When Jon started talking he called Jamie "Dot".

My dad...

It's been nineteen years today since my dad passed away. I miss him today and I miss him always...

Poetry Day

What Polly Found in Her Stocking

With the first pale glimmer,

Of the morning red,

Polly woke delighted 

And flew out of bed.

Out the door she hurried,

Never stopped for clothes,

Though Jack Frost's cold fingers

Nipped her little toes.

There it hung! The stocking,

Long and blue and full;

Down it quickly tumbled

With a hasty pull.

Back she capered, laughing,

Happy little Polly;

For from out the stocking

Stared a splendid dolly!

Next, what most she wanted,

In a golden nut,

With a shining thimble,

Scissors that would cut;

Then a book all pictures,

"Children in the Wood."

And some scarlet mittens

Like her scarlet hood.

Next a charming jump rope,

New and white and strong;

(Little Polly's stocking

Though small was very long,)

In the heel she fumbled,

"Something soft and warm,"

A rainbow ball of worsted

Which could do no harm.

In the foot came bonbons,

In the toe a ring,

And some seeds of mignonette

Ready for the spring.

There she sat at daylight

Hugging close dear dolly;

Eating, looking, laughing,

Happy little Polly!

~Louisa May Alcott

Monday's Musings...And The Story of Ginger

My son bought me this wreath for Christmas a couple of years ago...

There was a reason. Well, besides the fact that I do have a small collection of gingerbread people in my kitchen, it was that this familiar gingerbread boy and girl adorned this particular wreath that prompted Jon to buy it for me when he spotted it at our local mall. He was reminded of a very similar, but slightly more worn out, gingerbread friend from his childhood.

You see Ginger and Spice (the gingerbread boy and girl dolls on the wreath) were sold at Christmas time around about 1991 at Target. I thought they were so cute and bought them both to display at Christmastime. After Christmas that year, they were safely packed away with the other decorations. When I started decorating for the Christmas season in 1992, Jon was helping me (as only a three year old boy can) and spotted Ginger and Spice. He took Ginger who immediately became his best friend. It was funny to me because Jon just never became attached to any stuffed animal or toy in all of his 3 1/2 years. Why now? Maybe it would have only lasted for the holiday season had it been any other Christmas. It was not any other Christmas though.

Jon and Ginger getting geared up for some pressing work that needed doing.

A week before Christmas, my dad suffered a stroke. My parents were living in Florida and had actually been preparing to leave to come and spend the holidays with us in Michigan when it happened. My sister and I took the soonest flight we could get out on and flew down to be with him. We were hoping for...well what we were hoping for just wasn't to be.

I did know one thing within a very few days. We would not be home for Christmas and, added to everything that was happening, I just couln't bear the thought of being away from Jim, Jamie and Jon on Christmas day. I begged, cried and pleaded until Jim agreed to drive to Florida with the kids. He's a saint, really.

And my dad passed away the morning after they arrived, the 23rd of December 1992. And Christmas would never be the same for our family. We did have a very sad, but necessary Christmas that year. Our dad would not want us not to have Christmas, that I know for sure.

I think that is the main reason that Jon became more attached to Ginger. It was a lot for a little boy to handle at that time and maybe Ginger was his shoulder to cry on. I don't know. I only know that he and Ginger were pretty close friends until Jon started preschool. Even then, Ginger would wait patiently for Jon. He still does. I secretly packed Ginger in with Jon's things when he moved to California and again when he bought his own house. Ginger's still there. A little worse for wear, but still there.

Jon and Ginger played hard and sometimes just couldn't
quite make it into bed before they both fell asleep.

Simple Sunday - Christmas Edition

I thought I'd share this lovely photo with you on this week before Christmas. It's not dated and I would love any of you to give me your thoughts on when you might think it is. I'm thinking early 1900s?

Dreaming of a white Christmas,

Duker-day...Wrapping gifts

Duke here. My mom and dad were wrapping gifts a few days ago and I saw something. I saw something I shouldn't have seen. And it was gooood! My mom decided that putting my gifts under the tree wasn't a wise idea. Something about a certain someone who is not to be trusted. She couldn't possibly have been talking about me. Right?

I can't wait for Christmas.

Sosha and I promise not to destroy our presents in less than two minutes this year.
This was a couple of years ago. We've grown up since then.

Simple Sunday - Christmas Edition

Two days before Christmas, in 1992, my father passed away. Our lives were forever changed. Christmas was forever changed. We pretended Christmas for the little ones that year, but we didn't celebrate it.

They had been living in Florida and my mother was still living there the following Christmas and no one really felt like having Christmas.

Jim and I decided to take our kids and go to his family cabin in northern Michigan. It was quiet, we only took a few presents up for the kids (Jon was only four), we had a tiny tree and made our own decorations.

We decided it was about the best Christmas we had ever had.

My kids next to our baby Christmas tree - 1993.
Yes, my son is clad in only his unders and his and his sister's Christmas stockings!

My dad would never have wanted us to be sad at Christmas. I try to remember that every year.

Making good memories out of sadness,

Duker-day...Waiting for this -

Duke here -
It's getting pretty cold here. Not much snow though. I love to play in the snow. There's something about a fresh snowfall that makes me want to run and play blue ball.

I am pretty anxious because I haven't been able to do this yet...

Running around in the yard after a good snowstorm last winter!

I'm pretty sure it'll happen soon!

Connections...

Wonky computer problems this week. It's all about our internet provider.

A couple of years ago, when we decided to do away with cable tv, our phone service provider offered us a great deal to get DSL from them. We realized that our internet would move a little slower than our previous higher speed connection, but that was not a deal breaker to us. Saving money was what we were after.

Well it was more than a little slower, but faster than dial up at least. We've had problems with it, off and on (but worse lately). Jim's had to call for them to reset our router (or some such thing). Anyhow, at one point he was told by a tech person that we were at the "end of the line" of our phone company - meaning that about a half mile down the road it switches to another phone service - and we are really too far to be on their DSL. Still, it wasn't a big deal...just slower internet.

Fast forward to Netflix. We've gotten Netflix in the past and enjoyed picking out movies, especially during the winter when business is slower and we have more time to sit and enjoy a movie. It's better than what's on tv. Earlier this year, I put Netflix on hold because we weren't watching as many movies and didn't want to keep paying for something we wouldn't be using, especially since they were upping their prices. In the mean time, Jim thought that we should get something so that we could stream those Netflix movies.

Fast forward to Best Buy. Jim and I were out Christmas shopping earlier this week and stopped at Best Buy. We were debating about gifts for our kids. Couldn't decide. So, we ended up buying ourselves a blu-ray player (that would do Netflix) and all that goes with it, including having a Geek Squad guy come over and set it up (that part was part of a special deal they were running). It was all going to be much easier than the time and frustration that Jim was facing doing the work himself (which was why he had been putting it off for so long). The next day the little Geek Squad car pulls in and the guy sets up the router and our blu-ray player so that he can get us to where we could set our Netflix up.

Fast forward to slow internet connection. He tried. He really did. The thing would not update because of our slow internet connection and we couldn't get Netflix until the thing updated. When I looked at our last phone bill, I saw that we are paying way more for our internet than we had been (promotional deal ended). I even called the phone company and they very politely (I'm serious - great customer service) told me that, indeed, we are at the end of the line and there would more than likely never be any upgrades. I got back on our former cable company's website and signed back up for their internet service.

Self-installation. We'll see how that goes. For some reason, simple things are never as simple as they're supposed to be.

Anxiously awaiting the arrival of the new router (or some such thing),

Monday's Musings...

What's on my mind today?

Christmas and all of it's preparations. Shopping, wrapping, baking, decorating, cleaning and cooking. Oh, and let's not forget Christmas cards. Last year I surprised myself by really having no problem being in the Christmas spirit. With last year being the first Christmas without my mom, I thought it would be so sad, but I felt as if I was channeling her. I had the energy to get everything done and then some. For the first time ever, I made my own cards and vowed to make them every year.

Fast forward to this year.

I feel as if I'm just going through the motions. I'm not sad or depressed, just not fully in the Christmas spirit. The house is decorated and I've got a good chunk of my shopping done. I have got to start wrapping and think about the baking. And Christmas cards? Jim had a great idea for something I could do this year, but we just never followed through. I just don't have that umph that I had last year. Jim's thinks my problem is the weather. Mild temps and the snow that we have had hasn't "stuck" around very long. Or maybe I just need to snap out of it!

Last year's tree. Haven't taken a picture of this year's yet.

On this date, 125 years ago, Rose Wilder Lane was born. If you're a fan of Laura Ingalls Wilder and her Little House books, you'll already know that Rose is the daughter of Almanzo and Laura. I posted something short and sweet over at Beyond Little House. I have always loved what Laura wrote about her Rose in December. Rev. Jim over at Laura's Sweet Memories wrote about Rose as did Cheryl at timepie by the slice.
I enjoyed reading what they wrote much more than anything I could have written myself. So, if you're interested check them out.

I generally avoid talking about religion and politics. We're not all going to agree and some people love to discuss. I'm not one of them. I haven't been going to church lately. I know why and I don't know why. It's not about  my faith. My faith is strong. I think I would feel better if I just started going again, but the longer I stay away, the harder it is to go back. My religion is not perfect, but it's what I am, what I've always been. I don't really want to have a discussion about it, just wanted to get it out there. Maybe it'll get me back to church.

One more thing. Firstly, I love my daughter. She was with me first. She is a main reason that I am who I am. But I just have to say that having your adult child move back in with you is not always fun. It's not always bad, but it's not always fun. I would venture to say that she feels exactly the same.

The end.

...who is procrastinating going out
to clean the chicken house in the rain.

Simple Sunday - Christmas Edition

Yes, those are two cans of spray paint that my son is holding. Yes, he did ask for spray paint for Christmas. No, he was not an early graffiti artist.

He loved to play family flag football. He decided to go all out and wanted to paint lines on our "football field". He also asked for, and received, a roll of caution tape and road cones. Eventually he and his Daddy-O put together and installed a goal post. It stood for a good many years after the family no longer played football together...

Christmas 1996 - My seven year old son, Jon. Isn't that the greatest smile?

Loving my Christmas memories,

Duker-day...And The Football Game

This is what happens when Boy Scouts have free time and decide to play football.

Naturally I, Duke the wonder dog, has been invited to play!

I know I'm in there somewhere. Obviously, a key player in the game.

There I am, in the thick of things (see me behind the tree?)!

And this? This is what happens after the game...

Sincerely, your blogging dog friend,
Duke

Monday Musings...

How was your Thanksgiving? We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We all trekked over to my sister's house and enjoyed a most delicious turkey dinner. And dessert. My sister is a wonderful cook. She inherited it from our mother. Unfortunately I did not. It was a great day. Family, food and laughter. What better way to spend the day?

I do not do Black Friday. Okay, I have done it a twice. Both times when I was out of town, only once did I do the early morning thing. I did not like it. So why did I go shopping on Friday?

Well, Jamie and I had tentatively planned to go see Breaking Dawn over Thanksgiving weekend. It occurred to me that Friday might be a good day to go see a movie since everyone else who ventured out would be shopping. We decided to go to the 11am show since somehow the movie was turning into a pre-Christmas shopping/car browsing trip (just how did that happen?!) Anyhow, there were about 10 people in that movie theater and the movie was good so I'll be ready to see part 2 next year.

And shopping we did go! All the early morning crowds were cleared out and, although it was still crowded, it wasn't too bad. I did buy Jim's big gift and have some ideas for some other gifts that I have to go back and shop for on my own. All in all a good day, except for the one incident we witnessed. I will talk about that another time.

Then we went car browsing. Actually just browsing at one car. And not for me. Now that Jamie has a good job, she decided to start looking at newer cars. Her Explorer does not do well on winter roads and it's getting up there in age so it was best to replace it before it started having problems. She's been admiring her brother's car since he bought it last year so she knew she wanted something similar. She found it, we looked at it, they offered her a fair price on a trade in and the car had just been marked down $1000. It was in very good shape and pretty too. So, she bought it! I'm excited for her. I'm happy that she has a good job that she loves (even if it's stressful) and that she's starting to get back on her feet. We talked her into putting off moving till spring so she should be in good shape by then...as long as she doesn't get laid off. *sigh* *constant worry*

Ain't she purty?

On Saturday, we did our part for Small Business Saturday (by the way I am a proud owner of a small business!). Jamie picked up her car from a local car dealership on Saturday, so that was when the actual purchase took place. We then went shopping at our local Springrove Variety Store for some Christmas crafting supplies. So, there you have it!

Getting ready for Christmas!

Simple Sunday - Christmas Edition

We're back! I had been working hard getting caught up around here and decided to take a little break this past week. Happy to be back and ready to share some of my Christmas memories on these Sundays leading up till Christmas.

Christmas 1981 - I was a newly single mom and we were living with my parents. We didn't have much, but I wanted to make a happy Christmas for my baby...

Jamie, age 17 months, loving the new baby she got from Santa.

Enjoy your Sunday,

Thanksgiving!

Giving Thanks

For the hay and the corn and the wheat that is reaped,
For the labor well done, and the barns that are heaped,
For the sun and the dew and the sweet honeycomb,
For the rose and the song and the harvest brought home --
Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving!

For the trade and the skill and the wealth in our land,
For the cunning and strength of the workingman's hand,
For the good that our artists and poets have taught,
For the friendship that hope and affection have brought --
Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving!

For the homes that with purest affection are blest,
For the season of plenty and well-deserved rest,
For our country extending from sea unto sea;
The land that is known as the "Land of the Free" --
Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving!

~Author Unknown 

I have so much to be thankful for...God and my family, a husband who works hard and loves me unconditionally, a daughter who is a wonderful teacher and is able to make a difference in her little ones' lives, a son who works hard and is good at what he does, and his girlfriend who loves him and will be a great nurse in just a couple of years, my mother-in-law who raised the best husband I could ask for, the memories of my parents and my father-in-law, my siblings and siblings-in-law who we know are always there for us, good friends near and far (that includes you!), a warm house and good food, steady work and bills that are paid, the opportunity to pursue my hobbies and interests, good health and happiness...yes I am thankful for much!

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Monday's Musings...

...on Tuesday. Just because I didn't get around to it yesterday.

I posted this on facebook this morning:

Question: This is a very catchy upbeat sounding song...until you listen to the lyrics. Is there something I'm missing here? Is there a meaning to the lyrics that isn't as dark sounding as I take them to be? If you have young-ish kids, would you want them listening to this?
As a side note, these lyrics were pointed out to me by my daughter - the same one I used to argue with over the lyrics in the rap songs that she listened to as a teen (which I always thought were very degrading to women).
Okay, I'm stepping off my soapbox and getting back to work.

 And what am I talking about? This song:

I got the following comment to this post from my nephew's girlfriend, Melissa, who apparently did a little digging:

one of the band members described this song in a magazine article "Pumped Up Kicks' is about a kid that basically is losing his mind and is plotting revenge. He's an outcast. I feel like the youth in our culture are becoming more and more isolated. It's kind of an epidemic. Instead of writing about victims and some tragedy, I wanted to get into the killer's mind, like Truman Capote did in In Cold Blood. I love to write about characters. That's my style. I really like to get inside the heads of other people and try to walk in their shoes."

Foster says he considered writing the song from the perspective of the victim, but felt that would be a cop out. He also points out that there is no actual violence in the song, as the threats are all the kid's internal monologue.

My response:

Thanks, Melissa, that's interesting. One of the things that is bothersome to me is that the song has real catchy upbeat music so that draws you in before you listen to the lyrics. We noticed that on some stations they are blanking out the words "bullets" and "gun". I guess what disturbs me the most is that there are kids who listen to these songs that are on the edge. Sometimes it doesn't take much to send that over that edge...and they're singing about that very kid. My opinion anyhow.

I've always been disturbed by certain lyrics in songs that are aimed at young people. Kids don't always have the ability to separate the entertainment factor from real life. I could go on and on and I know that there are many who don't agree and I realize that I may sound like a stick in the mud.

I would really love to hear what you all think...

Feeling protective today,

Simple Sunday

Sixth and final in the Trini-series.
I have to say that this is my favorite of the photos
that Trini sent to me.
This baby's face and the little hat and sweater and,
once again, a beautiful gown. Look at that edging on the gown!
I want to say thank you to Trini once again for thinking of me! ♥

Have a wonderful Sunday,

Duker-day...And There Are Scouts At Camp!

Sorry for the quick post, but I'm out in the woods.

THERE ARE SCOUTS CAMPING ALL WEEKEND! HAPPY DAY! HAPPY DAY!

I'll be back next week.

Veterans Day

My father served during the Korean War. Even though he never served over there, his duty here changed him forever. All of the soldiers who lost their lives came through where my dad was stationed and my mom told me once that he could never listen to "Taps" again after the war. It was just too difficult. He had heard it over and over during the war. 

My dad on the left.

My father-in-law served during World War II. He lost an older brother and I'm sure many friends. He never talked about it. That's the way he was. He did his duty, served his country, came home and put it behind him. I'm sure that it wasn't all "behind him". How could it be?

Today I appreciate and thank all veterans for their service in making sure that our country remains what our forefathers had intended it to be. Free.

 

And the winner is...

I used random.org to choose my giveaway winner...


(and, of course, I cannot get the little picture of my random.org to go here) (pfft...frustrating!)


So, trust me when I tell ya that the winner is...

pioneergirl said...

Congrats on the followers! My favorite things include Laura Ingalls Wilder research, spending time in De Smet, knitting, working in the yard, reading, and baking bread. --nansie

 

Congratulations, Nansie (and I love your favorite things)! Email me at asimplehappylife at gmail dot com with you address and I'll get it right out to you!

Edmund Fitzgerald

On this day, in 1975, the Edmund Fitzgerald sank in a November storm on Lake Superior. All 29 crew members were lost. Gordon Lightfoot sang a song about it...

(I really really tried to put in a video for the song here. Sometimes blogger drives me crazy! I provided the link...hopefully that works.)

http://youtu.be/9vST6hVRj2A

My husband has always had an interest in Great Lakes shipwrecks, so he knows more than I do. Jim has gone to so many of my places that someday I want to take him to the Great Lakes Shipwrecks Museum. It's doesn't ever seem to be "on our way" to somewhere. Some day.

Dreaming of a someday,
 

P.S. Today's the last day to enter my giveaway! I'll be drawing for a winner tomorrow.

Monday's Musings

How are you all on this fine Monday? I'm really dragging today. It must be because I'm another year older.

Yep, I turned 51 on Friday. I enjoyed a wonderful dinner out with my family. What can be better than that?

That's also why I started my giveaway on that day! What better day to give away some of my favorite things?! I will have the picture on there by the time you read this so check it out! I will draw the winner this Friday, the 11th.