Happy Thanksgiving

Yes, I know I am a bit late with the message.....but it has been a long long week.
I ended up working 3 days in a row - because someone wanted to work my Thanksgiving! YAY!!! Well, I dont know.....they tried to kill this old woman.....3 looooooooong days, on my feet all day, no lunches, barely any bathroom breaks.....not sure why so many women decided they had to have their babies in the 3 days before Thanksgiving! Thank God for extra strenth tylenol!

Thanksgiving was lovely. A little wierd tho. First time in over 30 years that hubby and I have not cooked it. We went to daughter #1 house......she did the turkey and most of everything. We did a salad, the relish plate, an pies. Her MIL brought over some things too.

Went with the boys to see The Muppets - it was cute - the boys were good. But it was a long and noisy day....probably because I was still tired.

Yesterday we drove to San Jose to the Harvest Festival. We go every year. This might have been our last year. Smaller than usual.....mostly same old stuff....except for what we went for, and it wasnt there! I spnt less than $30 which is amazing....

Today was Small Business Saturday. We went to the donut shop for breakfast (small business), the Farmer's Market (many small businesses)....ok, had to go to Joann's to get some buttons and things and I know that isnt a small business, and neither was Safeway....then we were going to walk around downtown but there really wasnt anything there that we hadnt seen recently....so we hit some of the local thrift shops - the hospital one and the shelter one, not the chain ones.....

And at the hospital one I found:


a piece of the Balleek china I collect - for $10!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Better yet, it was 50% off!!!!!!!!!

Also got some yarn for the teddy bears, a couple of Christmasy serving plates, a book I have been wanting, and a wine bottle gift box.....not a bad day at all!

Then came home andfinished digging out a corner that turned ito storage way back when we painted our room and we just hadnt gotten around to clearing it out. Thought it was going to be the area for the Christmas Tree but then Old Scrooge decided - after all his bah humbugging about it - that he is going to put up his North Pole Village after all.....so we brought in the tables for that.

Been packing boxes to ship to daughter #2 in TN.....and I jsut know remembered something I havent wrapped! Glad I only sealed up one of the 2 boxes!

I really want to get all my boxes mailed this week and then I can work on cards....but I am waiting for a couple ofthings to come that need to go into the boxes....

I work tomorrow and I am achy again.....and mixed up since I usually dont split weekends...what day is this??? I work Sunday and Monday and I am sure I will be convinced that they are Sat and Sun all week long!

Just as long as I dont forget my haircut on Tuesday....and work on Wed and then 4 days off!!! This weekend is the Wine Trails which should be fun - have only done that about 3 times cause it is usually on my w/e to work....and then a family reunion for hubby's side on Sunday. That should be fun....but boy, time is starting to fly by - still need t get to Monterey, and San Francisco before Christmas - work really interferes with life sometimes!

Photo catch up - Blogger finally cooperated!

These turkeys are smarter than I have ever been led to believe - they crossed a busy road in the cross walk ...ok, they didnt have a crossing light, but they still stayed in the cross walk. It was a flock of aout 6 or 7 of them.

Boys never grow up do they? Yup, hubby just had to play with hs food...

Not the est example, but the one I could get. There are some glorious trees out there right now - who says we dont get fall folliage in California????

A lovely hand crocheted doily or hot pad that a friend brought back from England

Isnt this a lovely tool box? All rusty and glorious? Got it for $1 - and it is now filled with plants

A tea party baby shower for one of the nicest people at work. Thought I got a photo of the tri level tray full of goodies but didnt....that 'pillow' was filled with sweet potatoe pie filling....to die for! Their cream scones were also delectable!Co workers at the tea party....there were about 5 or 6 tables full....

The same friend who brought me the crochetted goody from England, supported my Balleeck addiction with a belated birthday present - isnt it lovely?

Interesting Day

Ok...I give up. For some reason I cannot get any photos to load.
So will have to try them later.

Woke up to a grey, cold, drizzly day.
Hubby had to get labwork done...then we went and had breakfast...and hit up some garage sales. A couple of books, 2 puzzles for grandson, a ceremic Nativity set, a very cute little duck creamer, a piggy pitcher, some Christmas flowers, and a rusty ole tool box that is going to be awesome for a planter....

Then to the market and then to gym to work out.

After that a memorial service for a colleague who passed away a few weeks ago. Old time L&D nurse. Had been around since , well, you fill int he blanks. She could predict almost to the minute, when a delivery would happen. This the second nurse I have worked with who died within a year or two or retiring.....maybe I should never retire?????

It was lovely to see so many old friends and co workers....ones who have retired or jsut quite and moved away. Sad to catch up on some - one co worker who had to retire way before she was ever ready - always sad to see her - and hear about her dad dying....another one who moved away and is younger than me but has colon cancer...OB docs (working and retired), anesthesiologists, nurses, XRay techs - so many people from work.

You know what? It is going to be a WINE night!

Got a lovely over due birthday present from a friend - the most beautiful Balleeck vase (just wish you could see it!!) and a hank made crochet dishcloth that she brought home from England!

Hubby has to get up very early tomorrow - going to be at the firing range ALL DAY tomorrow in this cold weather! And I will wake up leisurely and do some errands....including picking up a raffle prize I won yesterday at the shopping we did downtown after we went to the lovely Craft Sale at a local Church.

I love those craft shows....they have some of the BEST stocking stuffers....lovely hand made things...and some of the tackiest things you just have to laugh at!

Couldnt get my phone out of my bag quick enough (another photo that wont load) but watched a flock of turkeys - about 6 - 7 of them - walk across a very busy street - walking in the crosswalk!

He wasnt Uncle Walter - but he was always fun to watch and listen to - RIP Andy Rooney...

Thoughts at the Gym

• You have to time it just right at the gym we go to....you dont want to be there during Squatters Time.....that is when the elderly come in to "work out"...AKA sit on a machine and talk to all their friends without actually ever doing any of the exercise the machine is made for.


• What is up with the couple who dresses alike? Older white man with younger Asian? Filipina? woman....they wear matching white tshirts, khaki colored cargo pants, and desert boots. They come in and do the treadmill and some of the machines....


• I thought exercise energized you?! Today it just tired me out. Maybe because we went later than usual cause of an appt to clean our pellet stove.

Catching Up

Just have to throw in a Hawaii visit photo - cause a friend is there this week and I am soooooo jealous!So this is Waikiki and Honolulu as seen from Diamond Head.

Spent the weekend filled with football.

Saturday went to watch my 8 year old grandson play. It is funny - cause they BARELY understand what they are doing - and it really doesnt seem as tho the coaches have much more of a clue! I was amazed to find out that refs are refs are refs no matter what age group they are working with. All of a sudden one of the boys on the front line of the other team sucker punchs one of the kids on grand son's team - closed fist, purposeful punch. And do you think ANY of the refs saw it???!!! Of course not. But I have to say this about his coach - he either saw it or hears enough about it, that he pulled the kid out of the game since the refs didnt evict him!

Then today was the Festival at the boy's school - and my daughter is co-chair. It was also football practice and the first scrimmage for my 6 year old grand son. So we drove over and took him to football - and then delivered him and his brother to the Festival.
They got their flags today - took a while to get them on all 9 of the team members cause they are such small kids! They were wrapping around them twice!

Here he is warming up and actually listening to the coach! Not too much dancing or not paying attention. Altho it was very obvious that the attention span for this age is about 1/2 hour.....and they were practicing for an hour and then had a scrimmage game! Yeah, none of them had an idea what they were dong - even the kids whose father's apparently work with them - they could (somewhat) catch and (somewhat) throw but the idea of plays and defense and offense....just a wee bit too much! But it was fun (and funny) to watch!

AND, I got to talk to my other daughter and my other 2 grandkids! Combined with the lovely hugs from Luke - the I love you's from Kaia and Owen - it was a pretty good weekend all around!

Too bad we were so tired. The dogs were ready to be turned into dog meat last night. They totally ignore each other during the day (except for food and water time!) but last night they decided it was time to double team and drive the humans nuts.....they wanted OUT every 1/2 hour or so..... I kept waiting for a big earthquake to hit. (Yeah, I dont think they were 'feeling' the one that occurred over in Turkey). They have been told they are no longer my favorites and since I work tomorrow, this better not happen again or they will be shipped out to the dog food factory...

Speaking about work, it is really interferring with my life. Or maybe it is because I over commit myself to projects????? Nah, cant be....

So I am trying to finish some ***** for my daughter for Christmas, and some little ******'s for kids, and hubby, and friends.....and I need to start on a really special (and as of now, undecided) project for my swap partner for her Christmas present....someone at work wants some teddy bears knit to take to Africa in March and I am itching to try one but that will just have to wait....and the baby blanket I am almost 1/2 done on - yeah, they decided to have the baby shower tea on November 10 so I need to get that done (and I am now worried I did not get enough yarn for that...) Whew.....why do I do this to myself??????

The other good part of the weekend? (Besides the weather which is undescribably beautiful!) Hubby is filling the freezer with stuffed peppers and saving the leftover filling for some stuffed cabbage when we get to the store to get some cabbage!

Etcetera

These are just some sayings I ran across in a catalog today and thoroughly enjoyed...

they know me in a way no one else ever has.
they open me to things I never knew existed.
they drive me to insanity and push me to my depths.
they are the beat of my heart, the pulse in my veins, and the energy in my soul ~
they are my kids


Children are often spoiled because no one will spank Grandma.

Lack of planning on YOUR part
Does not constitute an emergency on MY part.

I laughed so hard the tears ran down my leg!

Do what makes you happy
Be with those who make you smile
Laugh as much as you breathe
Love as long as you live.

NURSES....Here to save your ass, not to kiss it!
(dang, if I could only put that on a shirt and wear it EVERYDAY to work!!!)

And I have saved the best for last:

The best things in life are the people we love...
the places we've been...
and the memories we have made along the way.

Vacation

Altho I love being on vacation - who doesnt? - it is stressful....will somehing go wrong with the flight (I hate flying)? Will something happen at home while I am far away? Will my son really remember to take care of the dogs - especially since one has a disease and the other has a "condition"??

Once I get to where we are going I am fine....

What is the worst tho is packing.

Not the actual act of packing, but deciding what to take. And hoping we dont forget anything vital. Non essentials - those are easy to replace wherever you go.

And I ALWAYS start off with - "I know I pack too much, so this time I am going to whittle it down"......and it never happens.

Even when we go somewhere that has a washer/dryer.
Cause you just never know what the weather is going to be like or what you will feel like wearing...

And shoes! Hubby is easy - sneakers and sandals. But this time he is also taking water shoes and golf shoes....hee hee hee, he will pack as many as I will! Cause I need my sneakers if we go hiking/walking/exercise....and I want my beach sandals....and I will take my water shoes (last time we were in Oahu the beach we were at was rocky and we didnt have them - this time we will have them and not need them!) and of course my sandals.....and you know what? My sandals are just going to have to do it for day and night (but.......)

And then there is my knitting.....books and magazines and kindle (cause you know you cant have the kindle on for take off and landing - STUPID!!!!!!!!!!!!!).....and my cameras.....no tripod....no walking sticks....oh and a hat and swimsuits and....and...and...

...I am not packing light after all.

At least it will be lighter than the last trip when we packed for walking and touring and beach. But still.....I envy those people who can pack a backpack and be set for the week....Oh, and my emergency glasses and the binoculars.....

sigh....This time tomorrow I will be much happier camper (I hope!)