Final Post of the year

This will be my final post of 2008. I am working tomorrow and in the evening plan on just relaxing and spending time with my family. Also for anyone who is interested I have a new post over at the paranormal blog (link is in the side bar)
Happy New Year Everyone

Money Soup


This money soup can be made New Years Eve, or any time to attract money during the next year. Remove the silver object before eating the soup.


1 coin or small silver object
2 cups water
1 1/2 tablespoon butter
1 large onion, minced
1 small head green cabbage, shredded
4 cups chicken stock
Salt and Pepper to taste

Boil the sliver object to sterilize it. Melt the butter in a saucepan, add the onion and saute till light brown. Add the cabbage and cook until tender. Toss in the silver object. Add chicken stock to vegetables and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer fifteen minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.

(Scott Cunningham)

Recapping the year

Where has this year gone? it is hard to believe that tomorrow is New Years Eve
I've been giving some thought to the photo project I mentioned in my previous post and I think I am just going to mix it up a bit. I am going to do something called "The world around me" At lest once a month (more often if I can)
I will post at lest one photo from somewhere in my town. I will take you on a guided tour of where I live. I'm not sure exactly what I will show you yet, it might be something as simple as where I pump my gas, or simply a shot of the ocean, but I will find something to entertain you. In the meantime I am recapping 2008

January brought a whopping 1 inch of snow (that is all we had all year)



February found me ghost hunting (remember the "lady" my grandson saw in the woods)



March brought Easter and the hope that spring wasn't far behind


April teased us with a beautiful sunny day and the temperature reached 71, what better way to spend a beautiful spring day than at the beach.



In May my grandson had a birthday,and before I blink it will be time for another one



In June we took a vacation and one of the places we visited was bacon's castle in Surry VA




July brought us hot days and summer fun


The August heat brought more summer fun and we went and picked fresh vegetables at a local farm



In September I went to my favorite place...Gettysburg PA.




October found me celebrating my 55th birthday with a little early Halloween fun




November left us with cooler days in which we could enjoy solitude at the beach



December finds us at the end of the year, so please enjoy this little slide show of my Christmas.

What will 2009 bring? Only the fates know for sure but I wanted to take a miniature and thank all of you who come here to read this blog. I am thankful for each of you I am looking forward to meeting new friends and finding new things to share on this blog in the next year May you all have a blessed and Happy New Year.

What do you think?

Ok, I want some imput here. I have been thinking of starting a new photo project for 2009. I am just not sure what I want it to be about. I am looking for ideas.
Do you want to see more of the area I live in? Say something different every month?
Should I photograph the same tree every month to see how it changes?
How about only one house from Williamburg each month, or a photo of the beach?
I am up for suggestions..
Just leave me a comment and let me know what YOU want to see me do

Just thought you might like to know

1...I would never parachute out of a plane, have dinner on a platform suspended by a crane or ride in a sky lift (are you seeing a pattern here)


2...I would do one of those reality shows where you have to look for money in a room full of snakes and spiders I am not afraid of snakes and I would just step on the spiders or smash them.


3....I would never eat boiled spinach, yet I like the dip


4.....I have spent the night in a cabin that was reputed to be haunted

5....I flew 2,500 miles by myself to meet a man I only knew from chat rooms, email and the phone.six weeks later I flew back and he moved in with me and we got married two years later

6.....Watching the birth of my grandson was one of the most awesome things I have ever experienced.

7....I have lived in Georgia, California, Virginia, Maryland, and Tennessee

8....I failed my drivers license twice before getting it on the third try as a teenager.

9....I have never had a speeding ticket

10...Pie is my favorite desert

I've been in retail hell

Sorry I have been so quiet the last few days. I am totally exhausted. After having the day after Christmas off I went back yesterday to find the clothing department I work in, in total chaos. There were clothes on the counter, clothes on the chair, and the floor and the side bars. There were also F I V E rolling racks like this

Ours has a bottom rack too..so it was a lot of clothes. There were only two of us on the schedule at 9 am and our reliefs crew did not come in until after 1. I am not exaggerating, we rang constantly the entire time. Lines wrapped around the aisle and the pile of clothes grew higher and higher. We ran out of room to put hangers and we ran low on both bags and change. Never in all of my years of retail have I ever seen such a mess and such poor planning on the way of store management.
After lunch I tried to put stuff away, but it seemed the more we put away the more mess we made. Nothing was in the right place When I left at 5:45 yesterday we STILL had FIVE racks. When I arrived this morning we had THREE racks and a clean chair and sides and counter. About mid after noon a clean up team which had been calling in (some on their day off) came through and when I came home tonight we had managed to put almost everything where it belonged. Now tomorrow we just have to do a once over and get it back on the right rack..
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz I'm heading to bed

awards tags and stuff

I was tagged by PepperLady to do this meme called first sentence meme
Take the first sentence of the first post you wrote for the month. So, for example, here is the first sentence of the first post in January 2008:


January..."First let me say Happy New Year to all my blogging friends. May your days be filled with sunshine and happiness."

February..."Like many Pagan holidays, Imbolc has a Celtic connection as well, although it wasn’t celebrated in non-Gaelic"

March..."One of the daily things I do at work is go into the food court for Ice Tea from Chick Fil A and yesterday was no exception,"

April..."This week was hard for me, The only thing I seem to have among my photos that started with a K is one of my Kitchen."

May..."April's showers have given way to rich and fertile earth, and as the land greens, there are few celebrations as representative of fertility as Beltane"

June..."Look what washed up on the beach the other day."

July..."This is the Moore House where the British surrendered to the American and French Armies"

August..."This photo was taken while riding in the car across the Hampton Roads Bridge and Tunnel from Hampton VA. To Norfolk VA."

September..."On this date in the sixth century B.C., the Persian prophet and mystic known as Zoroaster was born."

October..."I wanted to let everyone know that I have changed the Gettysburg blog a bit."

November..."I am asking everyone to please say a prayer for my brother in law Tim."

December..."I promised several months ago that on Dec. 1 I would release the photo I took of the mirror in the Jennie Wade house (Gettysburg PA.)."



I am not tagging anyone because I have seen this done already on several blogs but feel free to play along if you haven't done this yet...
Also I want to thank Muse Swing for this award

We made it

Thank Goodness we survived Christmas, now to get past all the exchanges that are yet to come (at work).
Did I mention this was my lest favorite holiday..Yes I know I am complainer, but I really am glad it is over. If I wasn't superstious and really don't need the bad luck that is suppose to follow if you take a tree down before the first of the New Year I would have had mine down today. I will hang in there another week, but let me tell you right now. I am ready for spring.

Memories of Christmas Past

Hi Everyone
I wanted to share a Christmas memory with you today. It was 1965 and I was twelve. My dad had just got transferred from San Diego CA where we had been living since I was five to Norfolk VA. My parents were excited because it would be closer to both of there parents who lived just south of Atlanta GA and we planned on spending a few days there before settling in to the new area.
I have no idea why, but for some reason we stopped in Louisiana to spend Christmas Eve with family friends. I remember feeling a bit frightened and just knew I would be disappointed come Christmas morning, because for some reason I didn't think my parents had packed any gifts for my brother or I. Well, not only was I wrong, but I received a record album that I really wanted. It was my first "grown up" record and I am sure if I went searching in my mom's shed I would still find it.
Don't ask me why I thought of this today, but I did....Funny how sometimes we forget the little things that meant so much. I guess it just goes to show Santa can find us no matter where we are

Wishing you and yours wonderful Christmas memories. I hope Santa is good to everyone and fills your stockings with joy, love and hope for a bright and happy New Year.
This will be my last post until after Christmas, so take care until then
Hugs
Patty

And The Angels Cried

I lost my daddy four years ago today. I was there when he took his last breath, It was Christmas Eve as I watched hem as they lowered him in the ground, Christmas will never be the same for our family, but my daddy always loved it. More than mom we learned these last years since he has been gone. He also loved God and he loved Country Music. Alan Jackson was his favorite singer. He never got to see him, and there has never been a moment when I hear Alan sing that I have not thought of my dad..

This one is for you daddy..I miss you...I know this song is not about death, but about birth and joy and hope for our world, but on the day we lost you The angels are not the only ones who cried

Dear Santa

Dear Santa
As you already know (because Santa knows everything) I love to visit old graveyards and houses and battlefields, and just about anywhere that ghost would live. A lot of information is on the Internet but I like books too. L. B. Taylor Jr. is one of my favorite local authors and I would love to get some of his books from you this year. Since he has about 18 on Virginia Hauntings any one of them will be fine with me. I'm not picky....Oh and Santa, I think Barnes and Noble is open late..

Love
Patty

Blessed Yule

Blessed Yule and Happy Winter Solstice




The longest night has come once more,the sun has set, and darkness fallen.

The trees are bare, the earth asleep,and the skies are cold and black.

Yet tonight we rejoice, in this longest night,embracing the darkness that enfolds us.

We welcome the night and all that it holds, as the light of the stars shines down.

Here We Go Again

I swear our family is cursed. Almost every year (last year nothing happened) for the last FIVE years a family member of close friend died during the holidays.
It just happened again. I received word Saturday morning that my mother's oldest sister passed away. Her health had been failing for some time, but she was a feisty old thing and keep hanging in there. Her 87 years took its toll and she has gone on to a better place. I will miss her as she was one of my favorite Aunts. I can remember as a child going to her house. When my ex and I fist married and would go to Georgia for visits we would always spend a night or two at her house. She was one of those wonderful cooks that couldn't just make bacon and eggs for breakfast. Instead she made bacon and sausage and eggs and grits and biscuts and toast and red eye gravy and maybe even a piece of ham or pork chop. Dinner would be several meats and vegtables and pie and cake and cobblers..She canned a lot in those days and always had a garden. She could pick up a hammer and build on to the house as good as any man. She loved cats, but wouldn't let them in the house. She loved to quilt and I bet you she made hundreds of quilts over the years. She loved to tell stories and I learned most of my family history from here.
She is going to be missed.
Next year I think we are just going to skip the holidays

CINNAMON ORNAMENTS MIX

CINNAMON ORNAMENTS MIX
Yield: 1 Servings

3/4 c Cinnamon -- Ground
2 tb Cloves -- Ground
1 tb Allspice -- Ground
1 tb Nutmeg -- Ground
1 c Applesauce

Combine first 4 ingredients, blend well. Stir in applesauce and mix well (mixture will be stiff). Roll out to 1/4 inch thickness on ungreased cookie sheet. Cut dough into desired shapes with cookie cutters, etc. Use a wire hook, paper clip, or poke a hole for a hanger. Dry uncovered for 4-5 days. Store in plastic bags until ready to use. Yields 25 small or 18 medium ornaments. These can be used as air fresheners, etc. To renew scent, sand lightly with sandpaper or emory board.

Let's Say Thanks

If you go to this web site, www.LetsSayThanks.com you can pick out a thank you card and Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is serving in Iraq . You can't pick out who gets it, but it will go to a member of the armed services.

How AMAZING it would be if we could get everyone we know to send one!!!



It is FREE and it only takes a second.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if the soldiers received a bunch of these? Whether you are for or against the war, our soldiers over there need to know we are behind them.


This takes just 10 seconds and it's a wonderful way to say thank you. Please take the time and please take the time to pass it on for others to do. We can never say enough thank you's.
Thanks for taking to time to support our military!

.

Oh Christmas Tree

Look what jumped off the shelf and grabbed me by the ankle. It wouldn't let go, so of course I had to bring it home.

Warning Ranting

Ok I am going to warn you that this post is going to be about nothing but ranting, so if those kind of post offend please move on now.

I am so frustrated I just want to throw things and the target is my daughters boyfriends mother. See it is like this..She buys my daughter and my grandson. She is one of those people that uses things to buy her way into someones life. Frankly she makes me sick and I am so afraid that one of these days I am going to be in the wrong mood and she is going to be around and I am going to lay into her.
Ok, let me take a deep breath and back up a little.
This started about time my daughter moved in with her son. She would drop by there bring some little snacks or bake a cake that type of thing. Ok that was nice, I can't really complain about that. But then she started bringing her little things like Yankee candles and toys for my grandson. Still not to horrible, but I started noticing how my daughter seemed to be really eating up the attention. It was suddenly Phyllis this and Phyllis that. I started seeing this little green envy bug flying around my head because I can't do extra things like that for my daughter.
Next came last Christmas. It was my daughter's first Christmas away from home
She wanted to have her dad and his lady friend and my husband and I over to see the grandson open his gifts from Santa. She told Phyllis that maybe they could come by LATER in the morning if they wanted. Well, before we even got dressed and ready to go over on Christmas morning my phone rang, it was my daughter calling to tell me that Phyllis and her husband had called to let her know that they were on the way to her house. I walked in and there they were. I was so mad that I couldn't even see straight. I didn't even say hello for about 10 minutes. I really had to compose myself first. I was so taken back at how rude they were to interferer. (You have remember this is NOT her grandchild)
Ok we made it through the day but as the year has progressed she has taken more of an active role in my grandson's life. She is all the time buying this or buying that. My daughter loves the attention (who wouldn't) and the longer it goes on the more I feel inadequate for not having the money to lavish him with gifts every time I visit. It hurts me to think I can't do for my daughter and grand son and have to stand by and watch someone do for them.
Ok so now it brings us to this year. So far...she has brought TWELVE PACKAGES for my grandson..TWELVE! and these are just "extra" to put under the tree..This is not even his presents from her. In fact it is so bad that my daughter is actually taking back some of the toys that she had planned on giving him from Santa because he has to much. I'm thinking hey bitch, do you not think other people might want to buy something for the kid..
Seriously it burns me up. I can't afford TWELVE friggin packages for him.
My daughter knows I am upset. She is upset, and called me tonight and said she doesn't even want to have everyone over this year because she is so worried about everyone being on edge with each other.
See it is already tense between my ex's lady friend and myself, and my ex and my husband, and now we add her to the package, plus my daughters boyfriend is a prick and he knows I think he is a prick so Christmas morning is really going to suck.
I finally just told my daughter to just have Santa by herself and not have any of us over that I would come by later in the day. But I added that I better not find out that his mom showed up if I wasn't going to be invited to be there.
I hate this f$cking holiday
*note*
I know it sounds like a good old fashioned case of jealousy here, but it isn't that I am jealous. I am hurt and I feel sad that I can not "buy" my way into my daughter and my grandson's life. I am not financially able to lavish her with material things.
This woman on the other hand can and does. She over reacts to my grandson and to be honest she frightens me. I am really concerned about what will happen if my daughter and her son should have a child together. She is one of those nut case type of people that if she takes this much attention on my grandson you can only imagine what she would be like with a biological one of her own. I am concerned that if they have a child and were to break up that this woman would be the kind to try and file for custody and finance her son to file for custody. I pray everyday that my daughter does not get pregnant and that she finds someone else. This young man she is with does not give her the stability she needs emotionally. They have been living together over a year now and he still works two part time jobs instead of getting a "real" job. He has very little to do with the family and they very rarely go anywhere or do anything together. I know deep in my heart that she has settled for him because he has the house and she wants her own home.
He does pay the rent for them but other than that they pretty much live separate lives.
He comes from a family where the dad was violent and the boys are not close to him now. He (her boyfriend) does not know how to show love and I can see why, it seems that "things" are given in that family instead of love.
Anyway sorry for the long rant, but I just had to complain to someone

For No Reason

This is what it looks like when you take a picture of your own feet. Giggle

Munching

Ok, I am 55 so I know I can't blame it on being premenstrual, so will someone tell me why I bought 2 different kinds of pie fillings today (Chocolate and banana cream) and a jar of orange marmalade, AND a can of mixed nuts, AND a bag of chocolate cover peanuts...AND finished off some chips and dip.....

I'm hiding the bathroom scales.....

bargain shopping

Yes, I know it is December 15, and yes I know I am suppose to be shopping for other people, but just look what I found on sale for $5.00. I had to have him.
Merry Christmas to me!

A Christmas in Bloggyland Tour

Good Morning



Muse Swings is hosting the Christmas in Bloggyland Tour today and I thought it would be a fun way to visit blogs I have not been to before and get a chance to drool over all the beautiful things everyone is posting about. I have already posted some photos of my things this year so if your a regular reader of mine please bear with me as I report them again.





This is our tree this year

and this is my favorite ornament on it
.

It is not very pretty and as you can see it is old, but when I was a child it hung on our tree. It is the only one that has survived the fifty plus years since then so I cherish it the most out of all of the ones I have had over the years.



Here are some of my favorite decorations on the top of my entertainment center







This is my kitty Maggie, she thinks she is the queen of the house


At lest she is laying some where other than the shelves with my snowmen on them.

I have two cats and they love to knock off the things I keep on display



It is hard to decorate when you have an apartment that is small like mine, but I always enjoy putting out a few things.




Our Christmas this year as with Christmas in the past will start on Christmas Eve with a family dinner at my mothers house.



The last few years have been a bit sad because we lost my dad four years ago on Dec. 22, but he loved Christmas so I always try to look forward to that night because it is one of the few times of the year that the entire family is in the same place at the same time.
We load her tree with packages and then all sit down to eat. One of our favorite traditions is to have


Cheese Fondue


2 T flour
8 oz Swiss Cheese
1 1/2 c dry white wine, (preferably Emerald Dry by Paul Mason)
4 to 6 oz. Gruyere Cheese
12 oz. Muenster or Monterrey Jack Cheese

Put wine in fondue pot and heat to just below boiling. Have all the cheese chopped in small cubes. Coat the cheese with the flour and add it a little at a time to the hot wine. Sire over medium heat until all the cheeses are melted. Keep warm on electric burner or Sterno while serving
Have cutes of hard bread cut into bit size pieces and ready to spear and dip into the cheese.


Along with this yummy cheese and bread we usually have bits of streak which we fry in hot grease heated in the fondue pot. Sometimes as a special treat we have boiled shrimp, which taste so good dipped in butter. There is usually cake and pie, along with my mom's famous.

Peanut Butter Fudge

2 tablespoons peanut butter
2 cups (1 lb.) sugar or brown sugar
1 cup (1/2 pt.) milk
1 cup (1/4 lb.) chopped nuts
1 pinch salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Boil sugar, and milk until it forms soft ball when tried in cold water, or reaches 240° F. on candy thermometer, remove from fire and stir in vanilla, peanut butter and nuts beat until creamy. Pour into greased pan and cut into squares before it becomes hard.


After we eat, gifts are opened, and we visit awhile. But not to long because we have a long drive home and we need to get our sleep. The next morning we will be up bright and early to go to my daughters House before my grandson wakes up so we can be there to watch the look on his face as he comes down to see what Santa Brought.





I know he is going to be excited no matter what he gets. I hope each of you visiting here today have a Christmas filled with love and joy.
Thank you for stopping by. I leave you with this:



Just click the play button and enjoy Christmas in Williamsburg Virginia

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

When your bored and can't sleep....

44 words

Typing Test

Yule log magick

The Yule log brings warmth and light on this Yule Eve, and represents the birth of a new solar year on the Winter Solstice. Burning the Yule Log is one of the oldest magical rituals. You can make and burn this Yule Log with your family and friends.

You will need a beeswax candle, an oak, cedar, or birch log, a
fireplace or woodstove, cedar, holly, and pine branches, and green, red, and white ribbon. Begin by drawing a magic circle around the room and fireplace or woodstove, and then call in the elements.
Next, light the candle, dedicating it to the Mother Goddess and
Father God. Tie the cedar, holly, and pine branches around the log
with the green, red, and white ribbon.

As you do this, say: Blessed Yule Log of plenty, Bring us good luck and good health And divine prosperity, blessed be!

Now Dip some of the wax from the candle on the log. As you do,
repeat: Blessed Yule Log of plenty,Bring us good luck and good health And divine prosperity, blessed be!

Before putting the log into the fire, place your hands over the Yule log and say this prayer: Dear Goddess and God
On this Eve of Yule, I pray you Please grant us the gifts
Of good health and good luck And divine prosperity.
May the divine spirit shine brightly With each new year and every day In the Lady and Lord's name, Blessed be!

Enjoy the warmth and light of the Yule fire. Before you go to sleep, thank the Goddess and God, bid farewell to the elements, and close the circle.Tomorrow morning, take some of the ashes from your fireplace or wood stove, and scatter them clockwise around the outside of your home, including your front and back doors, to bring you and your family good luck, good health, and prosperity. Offer the remains of the beeswax candle to the Earth.

The eyes of a child

Several weeks ago the store that I work at "adopted" children from a local women's shelter for the holidays. Each department within the store was given a name, age and sizes and provided with a list of things that they wanted. Well let me tell you the list was pretty high tech for a bunch of underprivileged kids. Things like MP3 players and IPODS. One child even asked for a bike. Of course there was the usual stuff like sweaters and jeans, but all the same I felt a bit tiffed that we were not asked if we wanted to do this, just told you are. I came right out and told my co-worker that I wasn't going to do it because I had my own family to buy for and finances are always tight in my house. Of course in the end I did buy her a blouse and pants and helped pick out some other stuff with money that was collected from those who didn't want to shop for themselves, but I remained ticked off until the last minute. The last minute when I walked into the room where the store had gathered up all the gifts to take to the kids. There in front of me was C H R IS T M A S.....Brightly colored packages of all shapes and sizes. Some elaborately decorated, some in plain cheap paper, but there all the same. I added our things to the pile with our child's name on it...Then I looked around and there in the corner I saw it..The bike.. A little boys bike and in that moment I saw joy on an unknown child's face, and my heart melted...
This was what it is all about. Making someone happy, no matter what little bit you have, it doesn't matter, it is all about the kids...
Like Tiny Tim says..God Bless us everyone

(footnote: I wasn't mad that we were giving to children who were not going to have a Christmas unless our store provided it, I was mad about the way we were TOLD we had to do it without being asked. I felt like it was not handled right and that one person or a group of people should have been responsible for collecting for the children...It should not have been put out there public to each other as to how much we gave and who gave what. It is embarrassing when you can't afford to buy things (like a bike for a child) and yet they expect you too. I hope the store handles it differently if they ever do this again)

In a pickle

I bought and hung my newest Christmas ornament today.
A Pickle.
Yep, you read it right. A great big bright green PICKLE.
I've seen these around for years and just haven't bought one. I won't start the tradition below this year, but will probably do it next year and buy a little something extra for under the tree to the one who remembers to look for the pickle

A pickle used as an ornament on the Christmas tree seems odd at first, but this is an old German tradition.

When decorating the Christmas tree, it was a practice to hang the pickle ornament last, hidden among the twigs. The first
child on Christmas Eve to find the Christmas pickle ornament would receive an extra gift.

One rumor tells of a Bavarian-born Union soldier fighting in the Civil War named John Lower who was captured and sent to prison in Georgia. In poor health and starving, the prisoner begged for just one pickle before he died. A merciful guard took pity and found him a pickle. Miraculously, John lived, and after he returned home he began the tradition of the Christmas Pickle, promising good fortune to the one who found the special ornament on Christmas Day.

I also bought my grandson an ornament today (I forgot to photograph it before I gave it to him). It is a cute glass box turtle. A family friend gave him a real box turtle a few weeks ago,so I knew he would like the ornament.
It seems we were on the same wave length today because when he came over tonight he had an ornament for me too. He picked it out by himself and was so proud that I bragged about how much I loved it. Of course I insisted he help me hang it on the tree which made him even more proud.
Grand kids are so sweet. Here is the one he got for me

A sweet treat

Peppermint Crunch

1 lb. white chocolate
2/3 c. crushed peppermints

Melt chocolate over low heat, add candy.
Pour and spread onto large buttered sheet pan.
When cool, break into pieces

and the winner is NOT ME

Well I received the list this morning of winners from the ghostly images contest and my name was not among them. I have to admit I was a bit disappointed. I really thought that it was a good photo, but I guess someone had a better one. Oh well, I can always visit next year and try again. On the bright side I got my newsletter today from About.Com paranormal and my photo was one of the featured articles for this week.
Winner or not the Jennie Wade house was an awesome place to visit. I didn't expect the image in the photo, I didn't see anything when I took it. What I did experience while there was the chains next to one of the beds moving. Of course I thought it was rigged so I went over and touched them I could feel a pressure on the chain as if someone was actually moving the chain. It's funny because at the time I really wasn't alarmed. I just shrugged it off and moved to the next room. I spent quit a bit of time in the house, and was there alone. Now I am kicking myself for not using the tape recorder and trying to capture some sounds. Oh well, there is always next year.




I included this photo, becaues it shows the mirror from a different angel..There is nothing strange in this shot.

One end of the chain, you can see there is no way it is rigged

Me holding the chain

The other end of the chain, again how could it have been rigged?