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.

Simple Sunday

Trini-series #5 :-)
Love, love, love a little girl and her cat.
We always had a cat when I was growing up.

Duker-day...And The Corn Addiction

Yes, I admit it. I love corn on the cob. Yes, I admit that I harvested the few ears of corn that the garden produced this year. I. couldn't. help. myself.

I knew that my mom had been keeping an eye on that corn. The garden was pretty much a bust this year, except for the radishes. And those weren't tasty at all. My mom thought that maybe, just maybe, the family could enjoy the little ears of corn to go with a summer supper one night. It was not meant to be.

It all started when my mom saw this in our front yard. Whenever I find something good, I take it to the front yard.
She became very suspicious.

So she walked out to the garden and saw this....

and this...

and this.

The chickens were cackling, "It was Duke! Duke did it!"
Dumb chickens. There were still six chickens then...

I did get a big talkin' to. It's a lucky think I'm so cute. The next time my mom gave me corn she took pictures to show how much I enjoy it.

First I husk it.

My mom gets a kick out of this because I spit the yucky stuff out.
I wanna get to the good part!

I dig right in...

And eat the corn right off that cob.
I know how to do it.

After I eat all the corn off of it, I usually just go ahead and chew the cob up too.
Don't want it to go to waste.

Sosha pretends like she likes it. She'll take an ear and carry it around for awhile.
Eventually she eats it, even though she doesn't really like it.
She just doesn't want me to have it.

My mom wants me to remind everyone that she has a giveaway going on!

It's here!

Yes. I am finally announcing my 100 follower celebration giveaway! Today is a special day for me and seems a good day to start my giveaway.

I wracked my brain trying to decide what to give away and finally decided that I would give away some of my favorite things. Well, not actually MY things, but things that are my favorites. Only new.

So...I have decided that the theme of my giveaway is "Here Are A Few of My Favorite Things", which happens to be one of my favorite songs from my very favorite movie!

What am I giving away?

Well...
It may have something to do with:
Laura Ingalls Wilder.
Candles.
Something sweet.
My love of reading.
And maybe, just maybe, something from one of my favorite places that I may be making a day trip to shop (and eat) at tomorrow.

First of all, because I love Laura Ingalls Wilder, a biography about her by expert and author William Anderson.
I love our property and what it gives back to us so I'm including a jug of our own maple syrup.
A little gingerbread boy because they always make me smile. He comes from Bronner's in Frankenmuth.
I love candles so I had to include a candle.
Nothing's better on a chilly fall or winter afternoon than a cup of tea so I'm including some Michigan Wild Cherry tea bags.
Our property also gives us lots of blueberries every year. I don't make preserves, but I did bring some back from Frankenmuth's Bavarian Inn for the winner to enjoy - Blueberry Rhubarb preserves.
And, lastly, I love to read and I love my state of Michigan. I've included a bookmark with a little Michigan info on it.

What do you think? Are you game? Be a public follower and leave a comment here telling me what one (or some) of your very favorite things are. I will draw the winner on November 11!

Good Luck!

Eagles in the news

I know this is old news. I know that I've already talked about this.

But I just had to share this article in our local paper from last Friday.

Hey! I'm proud.

Hope you're having a lovely Wednesday,