How Nice

This is the cross stitch that Jamie made for her mom's 50th birthday. Jamie is a beginner cross stitcher, but she did a fantastic job on this. I have one of those calendars sitting on my desk that has a different cross stitch design each day. We look forward to seeing each new day's design. It has the directions on the back of each sheet. She had this done and framed since November, but her mom's b-day wasn't until later in the December. I didn't want to post the pic until I knew her mom wouldn't see the pic on my blog.

Thank Goodness

My new Dell power adaptor arrived on Wednesday while I was at work. They sent a big empty box along with it, just in case the computer still didn't work and needed to be returned (not a good sign....). The adaptor worked, but when I turned the computer on, there was a blue screen telling me that windows had been shut down, with instructions as to what to do to try and recover. Nothing seemed to work, I couldn't get rid of the blue screen.

Well, what good luck....Renee knows computers!! I asked her about it; she said in the business they call that blue screen, 'the screen of death!!' Well, wasn't I just thrilled!!

She clicked on an option that I was afraid to click on and fortunately, everything came back! I have my computer back....YIPPEE!!

Finally, I am still learning how to operate my new digital camera. I downloaded the software last night in order to be able to download the pictures from the camera. My old camera was also a Canon, so I was hoping I could just use that software to download the pictures, but it didn't seem to work. Plus this new software has more things you can do with the pictures, like make panoramic pictures, get rid of red-eye, and add text to the pictures.

More Pics

I seem to be able to only post a total of four pictures per entry; I don't know if it's just me, or that is the norm, but tonite it took about ten minutes to upload each picture, I don't feel like uploading more than four, and then having it not show up on the blog!

Adam, Joshua and Alyssa...they chose to stand further apart, so it didn't look like Adam was sooo tall and Josh was sooo short!!

Josh's mom, Renee, and I grew up together. We met when my parents and I moved to Wind Gap when I was in kindergarten and Renee was three and her brother Todd was only 1. We were very close all our lives. Renee and Todd's mom and dad were almost like my pseudo-parents! Renee and her family (including her brother and parents) have since moved to Georgia, so we rarely see them. They came to Pennsylvania to spend some time with her husband's family this past week. They spent the afternoon with us today. Josh is in 7th grade, while Adam is in 9th.

See what I mean?!?!?

Christmas Pics

Our nephews, Kieran and Conor

Arrangement we sent Chris, Fiona and family to adorn table at Christmas Dinner (Note peacock feather in the arrangement-the flower shop recently changed its name from Something Special to The Paisley Peacock-apparently every arrangement has a peacock feather in it)

Alyssa, pondering her new wind up flashlight

Adam, with the hat Alyssa gave him, after he opened his new Sears Craftsman tool set

Merry Christmas, Etc....

A Merry Christmas to all my readers...I hope you all have a blessed one and a healthy and happy New Year. Just a few thoughts:

+ Alyssa is supposed to have her wisdom teeth out on Wednesday. I don't know if it's gonna happen or not. She has a miserable cold. I need to make a decision by tomorrow. I'm thinking that unless she has a miraculous recovery overnight, we'll be postponing the surgery.

+ This was the first year that Kurt and I were the first ones up on Christmas morning. And that wasn't until almost nine o'clock!! We had to even rush to be able to leave for church on time. Adam had it all planned out last night...we would get up by 7, open our gifts and be ready to leave for church on time. Ha! He was the last one to get up!!

+ Alyssa had a solo today during the service at church. I felt bad for her having this nasty cold. I think she did a wonderful job under the circumstances. She didn't feel quite the same way, however. She thought she did a terrible job.

+ We had a wonderful time at Chris and Fiona's house this evening. She served a delicious Christmas meal! It was just us, Kurt's parents and Chris, Fiona and their boys.

+ My living room is a MESS!! There are opened Christmas presents everywhere and empty boxes laying all over the place. I told everyone it needs to be cleaned up tomorrow while I am at work. We'll see how that goes....LOL!

+ It's been years since I have worked the day after Christmas. I'm not looking forward to it, but I am glad I don't have to be at work at 7, like I had to do when I still worked at the hospital. 9 o'clock is just fine, thank you very much...LOL!!

+ I'm off to bed...g'nite!

Stay Tuned

My AC adaptor on my six month old Dell computer has died. It's been working on and off for several weeks now, more on than off, so I wasn't sure if there was indeed a problem. Well, tonite it totally crapped out, so I am forced to use my old laptop. Fortunately, the computer is still under warranty. I spent about an hour trying to connect to Dell's live chat, but when I finally did, they are sending me out a new adaptor at no charge. Heaven only knows why it crapped out after only six months.

Anyway, the point of this entry is to say that I may not post pictures until I get the new adaptor. I was just ready to post the picture of Jamie's beautiful cross stitch that she did for her mom's 50th birthday. I have had a picture of it for weeks, but didn't want to post the picture until after her mom's birthday, just in case she would look at my blog. I didn't want to ruin the surprise. I realized just as I was ready to begin that the picture is on the other computer!!

I expect the new adaptor by Wednesday/Thursday next week at the latest.

How Nice

Yesterday morning when I got into the office, this beautiful flower arrangement was sitting on my desk. I couldn't imagine who it was from. Turns out it had been sent by one of my transplant patient's thanking me for all I had done for him this past year! I truly appreciated his gesture! Several hours later another arrangement came....it was from the same patient thanking his physician and the staff for all their care throughout the year. How nice was that?!?!?

Christmas Cantata

Sunday night was the annual Christmas Cantata at our church. Kurt sings in it every year, and Alyssa has participated the last two years. I tape it every year so we can show it to Kurt's parents. His mom was a music major in college, has taught piano lessons privately for years and enjoys anything involving music. His dad is pretty much house bound, so they'll never be able to attend one of the cantatas, so this is the next best thing.

Alyssa and Bethany

How Cool Is That?!??!?

Alyssa and her friend Sarah went to Karlie's house today to decorate gingerbread houses. It was the first time Alyssa ever had the opportunity to do something like that. I think she did a fantastic job! I've never had the chance to decorate one...mine would probably look like a tornado had gone over it...LOL!! Check out the pics...

Amazing!

Alyssa told me about this; said her Economics teacher told the class about it. If I hadn't seen it, I don't think I would have believed it!!

I Wasn't Gonna Do It

I didn't think there was any time to make any Christmas cookies, but I just couldn't resist getting the ingredients to make chocolate chip cookies today while I was grocery shopping at Redner's. Alyssa and I made a double batch of oatmeal/chocolate chip cookies and single batch of peanut butter chocolate chip swirl cookies. I kinda feel like I should make something more festive or holiday-ish, but I don't know if I'll get around to it.



Alyssa and I made a good team...I mixed the dry ingredients, she mixed the wet ingredients...she put them on the cookie sheet, I took them off...she dirtied the dishes, I washed them!!

As quickly as we made them, you-know-who was eating them!!

Yummy Recipe

Disclaimer: Contains pecans
People love this snack everywhere I take it! I have people coming up to me telling me how yummy it is. Please give it a try...it's not difficult to make...


Crispix Mix

12 oz. Crispix
4 cups miniature pretzels
1 lb. pecan halves
1 cup butter
2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup light karo syrup
1 tsp. vanilla


Preheat oven to 225 degrees. Use large disposable aluminum foil pan and spray completely with Pam.

In pan, mix pretzels, nuts and cereal.

In saucepan, put butter, brown sugar and karo syrup. Cook for five minutes, but DO NOT STIR. (I have no idea why that is, and if any of you can tell me why, I'd love to know...LOL! I'll tell you I have cheated and stirred it slightly and it's turned out just fine!)

Remove butter/brn sugar/karo syrup combo from heat and stir in vanilla. Pour over mixture in pan and mix well with large metal spoon. Bake for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.

Delicious!

Gotta Vent

I have just about had it. I gave up a long time ago trying to keep my house neat, because I basically live with a bunch of slobs. Everything just drops wherever and then just stays there unless I repeatedly ask for it to be put away. And then there's the member of the family who has to be asked time and time again to put their things away. And what happens? It gets moved from one spot it doesn't belong to another spot it doesn't belong. For those of you who have never been to my house or it's been forever since you have been invited, I apologize, but I refuse to have company when my house is a mess. And, yes, I realize there is a difference between clean and neat. And, no, I don't regularly clean my house. Why, you ask? It's tough to clean around the mess....so why bother? Just don't invite anyone to your house...that takes care of the situation.
So then there's those times that I do try to straighten up and clean and dust...and then I get nothing but grief, "There must be company coming, Mom's cleaning..." I just can't win around here. And as I am grumbling under my breath trying to clean around crap all over the place, I am getting angrier and angrier, so by the time I am done, I am just furious and more than likely in tears. (As is the current case....)

A Few More Pics

Alyssa and her awards

Alyssa and Rachel

Proud Parents

Alyssa receiving her award

Alyssa thanking God and her family for everything and telling the group that she intends on studying secondary education in the field of math and spanish

Alyssa, Rachel, Nick and Steven
(Alyssa and Nick were December Students of the Month, Rachel and Steven were November Students of the Month)

Michele, Alyssa, Rachel and Monica


Alyssa was honored this evening by the Northampton Exchange Club as December's Girl Student of the Month. Three other students (November and December honorees) were recognized, as well. Each month during the school year they honor a boy and girl from Northampton High School for their academic and extra-curricular achievements. The November Girl Student of the Month is my best friend Monica's daughter, Rachel.

Each of the families were invited to the dinner program. We all went to support Alyssa, including Nani. It was her first outing since her second surgery. We sat at the table with Joe, Monica and Rachel. There are approximately 503 students in the senior class; how ironic that Alyssa and Rachel were chosen back to back as students of the month. I knew that Rachel was going to be at the dinner, but Monica had no clue until we walked in that Alyssa would be there, as well.

Kinda Late

Yahoo vs. Google: You decide! by ZDNet's Donna Bogatin -- Holidays are not complete without the cheery, or in this Halloween case, scary, theme logo designs put forth at the Google and Yahoo homepages. Arch rivals Google and Yahoo are facing off again in the battle of celebratory holiday logos on this Halloween day! Below are the competing entrants. Which Halloween logo design best celebrates Halloween? You decide! [...]

Latest Work Of Art

Shhh, don't tell Pete and Lauren about this! They won't see it until Christmas....

I started working on this cross stitch back in February shortly after I found out that Lauren was pregnant. At that time, they didn't know the sex of the baby. They eventually found out they were having a little boy, but decided to keep his name a surprise until he was born.

Imagine my surprise when I found out they had named him Noah! How appropriate was my cross stitch?!?!?!?