Archive for FRI.’S FEAST

{ December 14, 2007 @ 1:47 pm } · { CHRISTMAS, FRI.'S FEAST, Home, Show-N-Tell }
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…join us over at Kelli’s “There is no place like home”!!

- – -

I could hardly wait to do this week’s Show N Tell! Since yesterday I had received something special…from someone very special. There’s more to this story, at the end of my Friday’s Show N Tell………..This Friday, it’s more or less an eclectic set of photos from around the house. My Christmas bargains!! All holiday themed of course, but hey —Christmas only comes once a year and I’m playing with it with gusto. The first photo is…..

….a Santa Toothpick holder. LOL One fine Sunday when hubby and I were out to our weekly brunch, I was going through the holiday paper sale ads. And I saw this at Walgreen’s Drug Store…with the coupon this toothpick holder was 29 cents. Couldn’t say no to that deal.

I found this pretty poinsettia dish at the island’s thrift store. It too was a bargain. I think I paid a whole 59 cents for this gem. I love poinsettias 2nd to Santas so home it went with me. It’s ceramic and once it was cleaned up…it shines like new!!

Another bargain….this time last week at an antique store, we found the two Santa pitchers on sale in one of the peddlers’ booths. They are ceramic and neither one has a nick or chip or scratch on the finish.

But best of all, hubby and I got out of the store only paying —-ready? A whole whopping $5.00 for the both of them. $2.50 a piece. At times it can be a profitable time spent at antique stores…other times they’re so way over-priced you’d think you were in Tiffany’s.

AND!!!! I RECEIVED MY SECRET SANTA GIFT IN THE SNAIL MAIL!!! I can’t wait to tell you what it is….Our group of ladies sharing in this annual event has a rule tho…we can’t show and tell what the gift is until everyone has received their gifts or Christmas-whichever comes first. I’M SO EXCITED TO TELL YOU….IT’S UNBELIEVABLE!! (yes, I was instructed to open it when I received it…and boy howdy I’m glad my secret santa told me to do so!!!) :::whispering::: “Shhhhhh, my secret santa is:” —-

OOPS can’t tell you that ’til later either!

~FRIDAY’S FEAST

Appetizer
Make up a word and give us its definition.

Supergobslopsish -self explanatory. Super –large, colossal Gob –bunch or mass Slops -waste, watery, soupy and the suffix “ish” meaning related to: Hence relating to a large mass of waste!! How’s that for a word. Now, go use it in a sentence!! Oh and it’d be pronounced sooper gob SLOPS ish.

Soup
What is currently your favorite song?

I can never really name just one in these silly questions. Right now, I seem to be humming “Ave Maria” a lot. So, guess for the time being it’s my favorite. Tho I love music/songs!!!


Salad
What’s at the top of your Christmas wish list this year?

You mean other than my own doodling of a retro Santa? Just to be here on earth, alive and well, to celebrate. *shrug* I really don’t have a list.

Main Course
Name a scent that reminds you of someone special in your life.

I’ve liked and always will like the scent “English Leather”. It reminds me of someone very special to me from my past.

Dessert
Who is someone on television that you feel probably shouldn’t be, and why?

I don’t watch that much television. My answer is very vague because of that. I don’t know their names, I really don’t know who they are— I think maybe the American Idol hosts…I’ve never set myself down to watch it…but even just the previews/commercials about the show makes my blood curdle. Or from other previews, anyone who is part of the Survivor Series in general…

But, I have a question on these Feast menus———WHY ALWAYS television questions? There IS more to life than the ‘boob tube’!!!!!!! On the header for this meme it states “A buffet for your brain”. Personally, I don’t have to use my brain much these past few weeks on the F F menu, no thinking to it, all I need to do is use the same ol’ stuff from prior weeks “I don’t do this much, or that much……” Same ol’ same ol’. So, this will probably be my closing menu for participation. I really am seriously thinking that the feasts are just too mundane for me to do, I’d rather just visit the chefs–it’ll be worth while then. And this is only for me….my own personal opinion.

{ December 7, 2007 @ 2:52 pm } · { CHRISTMAS, FRI.'S FEAST, Home, Show-N-Tell }
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Show N Tell first, then scroll for Friday Feast


…join us over at Kelli’s “There is no place like home”!!

In our living room there’s a secret corner table that’s round, tiered, and high! Way in the back side, in the shadows! Atop the round table are two special Santa Fairies!! Early in the morning is the only time they see daylight. Otherwise they would fade away into a mystical nothingness. They’re charmed and they’re most always happy. If you’re quiet, you may even hear them faintly….singing and humming and if you’ve been good all year, you might even listen to a bit of jolly ho-ho-ho-ing!!

This is my Friday’s Show ‘N’ Tell this week. Of course if you come back on the 7th there will be a lot more about our Christmas tree…AND you’ll see my very 1st Santa….it’s more than 50 years old!!

*shhhhhhhh*….:::whispering:::

I heard them, did you? Be quick! Or they’ll turn their backs on you and expect you to forget you ever saw them! “I believe! I do believe!” It’s such a magical time of the year. And coming soon to a blog near you -the open house tour I’ll be doing on the 17th. You’ll see quite a lot of my collection of Santas then! Happy Friday everyone!!

Yesterday was St. Nicholas Day [not SANTA Claus Day] –it’s observed on December 6th throughout Europe to celebrate the real saint. St. Nicholas was born in 271 AD and died around December 6, 342 or 343 AD near the Asia Minor (Turkey) town of Myra,. where he later became Bishop. He performed many good deeds and was a friend to the poor and helpless.

~FRIDAY’S FEAST

Appetizer
What was the last game you purchased?

TRIVIAL PURSUIT Silver Screen Edition.

Soup
Name something in which you don’t believe.

I don’t believe in ever finding an HONEST person in our government anymore. I saw a T-shirt on someone’s back several months ago, that says it all —”I love my country! It’s the government that I don’t love!” That statement is a given fact in today’s world. Sad, but true.

Salad
If you could choose a celebrity to be your boss, who would you pick?

Hmmmmmmm, for whom would I like to work; who would I want for a boss? Wow, that’s a loaded question!! Depending on what position I’m working! Ya, take that statement any way you wish…it’s true! It’s the position that counts on my choice of celebrity bosses! I really can’t answer that on the grounds of incriminating myself. I take the 5th!!

Main Course
What was a lesson you had to learn the hard way?

Altho I’ve been brought up, and raised our children to be independent individuals, when our daughter was in an abusive relationship with her husband — I learned the hard way to be supportive BUT stay out of the ‘ex hubby’s’ face and not judge him OR jeopardize her well-being. It was a very DIFFICULT time in my life [as a mother] and I had to learn the hard way to be there for her without trying to live there in her life. I wanted her to have me for support without me interfering. It’s still difficult for me sometimes to not say what’s on my mind. I try to continue to be non-judgmental and realize they’re adults and not small children needing my guidance and discipline. In a way to curb my interfering I admit to saying to myself many-a-times, “They’re grown, and it takes TWO in a relationship! Not two with one buttinsky.”


Dessert
Describe your idea of the perfect relaxation room.

Oh this is a fun dessert. Here goes. This is all the ingredients for a relaxation room – just mix ‘em all together and you have sweetness without the guilt!

One large tub and…

    1] a darkened but candlelit room
    2] an ounce of sweet, quiet music
    3] gallons of warm, scented water
    4] oodles of bubbles
    5] a ton of nothing
    6] you and a waterproof pillow
    7] a thick slice of good book…

    Lavender scented throw [optional]

Mix warm scented water and oodles of bubbles. Add yourself holding a thick slice of book. Surround yourself with a shimmering candlelit room and an ounce of sweet, quiet music. And over using the term a ‘ton of nothing’ will NOT hurt —go for it ALL. Then, simmer in the bubbles for 30 minutes or until the muscles relax. Soak in the atmosphere and tear off thin parts of the good book while absorbing the quiet music! Use the waterproof pillow to unwind the tenseness in your neck…this is the first area of relaxation.

When done, get a rub-down of Body and Bath lotion. Relax on the plush sofa with a lavender-scented throw for more minutes, and voilà—relaxed!!

ADDING Prayers for Melli’s brother in law and her family. Her brother in law passed away yesterday from Lou Gehrig’s Disease. My heart-felt condolences to you sweet Melli. Please go by and send your best thoughts and tell her “Hootin’ Anni” sent you…Her family will appreciate the blogworld’s concern and thoughts on this day of sorrow.


What The Holidays Mean to You


For you, the holidays are about celebration. You enjoy all the fun and fellowship that the holidays bring.

You celebrate the holidays in an over the top style. If something is cute, you’ll buy it. People end up with a lot of gifts from you – and your house is like a holiday wonderland, full of decorations.

During the holidays, you feel happily busy. There’s so much do to and not a lot of time to do it. But you enjoy every minute of your holiday chores.

You think the holidays should be decadent and indulgent. You never mind gaining a few holiday pounds… it’s worth it!

Your best holiday memories are warm and intimate. You remember special moments more than gifts or parties.

{ November 30, 2007 @ 2:16 pm } · { FRI.'S FEAST, Home, Show-N-Tell }
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TODAY IS FRIDAY –
that means Show N Tell and Friday Feast.
For Friday Feast…scroll down!


…join us over at Kelli’s “There is no place like home”!!

Welcome to my Friday’s Show N Tell. This week it is of my new ceramic tea collection. I also have a few bone china cardinals, as I love the beautiful red birds; so naturally when I spied this set at the gift shop one day this past month, it was ‘a must.’ Hehehehehe, my hubby just shakes his head, and continually reminds me that “You don’t need any more junk in the house!!” Then, he ends up liking it all. Go figure. Men!!! Hey, it was pretty, and cardinals —I couldn’t go wrong!!!

The following photos are of the same set, but just more ‘close-up’ than the top of the hutch above. With this photo you see the serving tray and the tea pot. The red is just so vivid, and it’s all hand painted.

This, of course, is the tea cup. It’s rather large and a hefty booger! It’s definitely not fine, fragile china. LOL —but I think it’ll be a festive touch for the holidays coming up soon.

Sugar bowl – - -For me, what makes this set so special, as I said, it’s hand painted – so the cardinals are not all indentical; not all the same as you see in ‘pressed’ patterned sets. They’re all ‘more or less’ individual birds. And…

…the holly & pine cones are a great added touch for more of the intense colorations. The creamer – - – As I said, the set is new, I bought it in October, and I haven’t had time to try it out, but maybe I will!! Which brings me to a question – a household hint: Does anyone know how to get out tea stains? I’d hate to mar it up with discoloration. But then again, on second thought, I may not even use it.

This is what is painted on the reverse side of the creamer, sugar bowl, teapot, and cup. Pine cones…

~ANSWERS TO THURSDAY 13
Jumbled Holiday Movie Titles.

1-Prancer
2-The Perfect Holiday
3-Elf
4-How the Grinch Stole Christmas
5-White Christmas
6-A Christmas Carol
7-It’s a Wonderful Life
8-Jack Frost
9-The Nightmare Before Christmas
10-Home Alone
11-Christmas With the Kranks
12-Jingle All the Way
13-Santa Claus

~Chocolate or NO chocolate?
That is the question!

The heart specialist sent me to a nutritionist the other day. And she was telling me what foods eaten would trigger rapid heart rate. She told me to stay away from coffee, teas, chocolate and colas. Well, I don’t drink coffee, and I do drink herbal teas [she smiled and said all herbs are more or less stimulants of one kind or another.] And cigarettes have licorice which is a high stimulating herb! I haven’t drank much cola since my first heart rhythm problem…at one time I drank a lot of Pepsi/and or Coke! Not any more….I now am told to drink Ginger Ale OR DIET root beer. Tho the regular root beer [non-diet] is lower in caffeine, it still has enough if drank in high quantities that the heart would be affected. I can handle diet drinks. But the chocolate?!! Oooooo, baby, that’s gonna be a difficult thing to give up. Even if consumed in small amounts, it makes the heart work harder. Hmmmmmm. So, I got to thinking after I came home that day, “Wonder if WHITE chocolate has caffeine?” Well, I kept forgetting to research it…’til yesterday. After we went to the grocery store for cat food, I was tempted to buy me a Nestle’s Turtle snack pack. Yummy. But no, I used my will power! But, I DID remember to come home and look up the caffeine content of white chocolate. Here’s what I found:

“Does white chocolate contain caffeine? I’ve been taken off all caffeine owing to a bout with insomnia and while I’m not addicted to chocolate, I do crave it once in a while.

Answer

All individuals react differently to caffeine ingestion. In adults, it takes three to seven hours before half of the caffeine ingested is metabolised and eliminated from the body. Milk chocolate contains 180mg theobromine (a caffeine-like substance) per 100g, whilst white chocolate contains only a trace of theobromine because it is produced without cocoa. Therefore, white chocolate would be a better option
- – -

White chocolate contains no cocoa powder; then it contains no caffeine (it could contain very low trace amounts but nothing that’s going to keep you awake at night!)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_chocolate

I say to this: “Yay!!!” “I can satiate my craving for chocolate without the caffeine content!!!”

You know what they say about sloppy cooks? [check closely on the bottom right area of the photo...see the white specks off the outer edge of the counter in the dark area? That's flour dust.] I swear it just jumped right off the counter onto the dishwasher door—all by itself. Honest :::crossing fingers behind my back:::

No worries mate! Pie’s done and hubby cleaned up my mess. He’s truly my sweet cheeks! I knew I married him for something. *giggles* Hot, fresh, apple pie anyone?

~FRIDAY FEAST

Appetizer
What is your favorite carnival/amusement park ride?
Actually, I’m not much for this kind of entertainment any more for me personally, altho when younger I loved the roller coaster and the ferris wheel…but if it were Disneyland….well, Indiana Jones ride is way cool, and space mountain. Right now tho, I’m much too physically weak for anything that’s jerky these days. Now, I would have to say riding the elevator up and down to the 7th floor at the drs. complex is as thrilling as it gets for me.

Soup
How do you react in uncomfortable social situations?
Me? I’m not much a socialite, so I would definitely not have to react to uncomfortable situations. Give me a quiet home and a peaceful day/evening and I’m very content!!


Salad
On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how much do you enjoy discussing deep, philosophical topics?
Well now, this is a trick question. ‘Cause it would depend on the SUBJECT! Not that it’s a deep philosophical topic…the topic has to pique interest first.


Main Course
Did you get a flu shot this year? If not, do you plan to?
[1]No, and [2]probably not. It’s not worth it….why? ‘Cause you get the flu —and it’s over in a few days…so, why bother? I mean, really….you have a 50/50 chance of catching the flu…but with a flu shot the odds are NOT in your favor, you usually get the flu from the shot.


Dessert
Approximately how many hours per week do you spend watching television?
Average-wise? Let’s see 2 1/2 hours on Monday. Tuesday, one hour. Wednesday – Saturday a whole whopping ZERO —Sunday, about 6 hours –SPORTS. [We watch movies!!! TV isn't good these days] So, that would be a total of 9 1/2 to 10 hours a week…if there’s overtime on any game. Television has not been much for me —I’d much rather read, play games, crochet….or watch a movie with my dear hubby.

{ November 23, 2007 @ 3:30 pm } · { CHRISTMAS, FRI.'S FEAST, GENERAL, HUMOR, WILL }
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Well, the special day of giving thanks has finally come to a close. Today, Friday, the day the Americans call “Black Friday” is the day I make sure I don’t leave home! In fact this weekend, I remain in the perimeter of my home only!! I’ve been trapped and stressed, being blond as I am, at stores on the day after Thanksgiving, for all the special sales at certain hours. The GOOD sale prices. But no more!! The people, the traffic, the congestion on the streets and in the stores….uh-huh! No way José! Never again if I can help it. On the local news last night after the Dallas Football game, they showed people camping outside the Best Buy store —waiting for the 5 A M opening so they could get the laptop computers at a VERY cheap price. I say, “It’s just not worth the hassle!!” I’d rather pay full price and keep my sanity, thank you very much.

Yesterday, our turkey was delicious. Just the way we like it…tender and dry! The dressing was fit for a king [if I say so myself]. I made cole slaw, cranberry waldorf, mashed potatoes and brown gravy. To top it all off pumpkin pie and topping. It was all great tasting and exceptionally good.

Every year for the day, while we watch the Dallas Football game, it’s tradition that we decorate the Christmas tree. We have it completed, perched by the front window just off the front porch. And yes, I do continue to use tinsel! Even tho it’s considered ‘taboo’ these days. I have no small children [even when we did, tho, I used tinsel, and they survived!] –and our cats are strongly disciplined, they don’t go playing with anything on the tree….they know better! So, tinsel it is! I love it…the sparkle with the lighted lights is a finishing touch for me still!!!

And yes, if you know me at all, just a bit -you guessed it’s…Santas! A Santa tree top that is animated. And the lights? Santa faces!! Here is a close up of the tree lights. I fell in love with them…I think, if I recall correctly, my sister sent them to me. Everyone in my family knows how I collect them…and these lights are adorable! I like the red and white against the green Christmas tree branches. Our tree is decorated traditionally with Santa ornaments, red glass ball ornaments, icicles, snowflakes, Santa lights, Santa treetop, red velvet bows, and tinsel.

I started with the annual task of the long hours of unpacking the hundreds of Santas that will be all over the house eventually. By the end of the weekend. Soon, once again as with every year, the House of Hootin’ Anni will be a virtual Holiday Santa Shoppe! Christmas will arrive at our house soon!! After the meal we had yesterday, this is just what I should be doing. Santa, with all his cookie consumption over the next month…he likes to keep in shape. And this is his secret…of course, don’t tell Mrs. Claus that we now know what kind of undies he wears while he’s working out with his hula hoop. She probably wouldn’t appreciate us knowing. But, on second thought maybe she’s very proud of her hubby and is happy to show him off in blogland!! [this is one of MANY Santas from my collection] And for the next few days, I will ache with all the unpacking…it too comes along with all the holiday traditions. Backache, sore legs –you know, the usual from climbing ladders, and unwrapping and hanging this and that. But each and every year, it’s worth the acres and pains—the house is always so festive. As I get more out and set around the house, I’ll add more photos. On December 17 there is a blogland “Show of Homes” for the holidays…then, I’ll have a lot more photos to share!!

And as I continue to grunt and groan with the stiff muscles and achy back, I thought it’s time to sit down and write out my living will. Just in case———

~My living will….

I, HOOTIN’ ANNI, being of sound mind and body, do not wish to be kept alive indefinitely by artificial means. Under no circumstances should my fate be put in the hands of pinhead politicians who couldn’t pass ninth-grade biology if their lives depended on it, or lawyers/doctors interested in simply running up the bills. If a reasonable amount of time passes, and I fail to ask for at least one of the following:

    Glass of wine
    Chocolate
    Margarita
    Chocolate
    Cheeseburger
    Cold Beer
    Chocolate
    Chocolate
    Mexican food
    Chocolate
    French fries
    Chocolate
    Pizza
    Chocolate
    Ice cream
    Chips ‘n’ Dip
    Chocolate
    Chocolate
    or
    Chocolate

it should be presumed that I won’t ever get better. When such a determination is reached, I hereby instruct my appointed person and attending mongers physicians to pull the plug, reel in the tubes, let the “fat lady sing”. .. . And call it a day!

Signed:
Anni also known as Hootin’
on this said day of the said year 2007
23, November

NOTARIZED by Tahoe & Winston

- – -

Now that the cat’s outta bag…Some legal terms to help you understand more clearly –[i.e.; --"Don't rely on the crooks of the nation to word your living will"]:

Civil law

    Quirky American derivation of Roman law wherein lawyers and judges routinely manipulate a written collection of laws that apply to everyone’s will & testament, but the lawyers and judges themselves, who are exempt from observance of said laws; practiced by uncivil lawyers in an uncivil environment and administered by uncivil judges in uncivil courts of estate.

Conflict of interest

    A disturbing and somewhat awkward situation that occurs whenever a lawyer, representing one inherit client, discovers that the opposing inherit party is paying their lawyer a lot more money than his inherit client is paying him. See “Breach of trust”.


Intestate

    Dying without a will, thereby leaving your inheritance to the lawyers.

Just cause

    A phrase frequently used by Southern estate lawyers pertaining to their bills and the wills legalities. In the South, lawyers frequently overcharge their inherit clients “just cause” they feel like it.

Lawyer

    Originally derived from early Roman law, meaning “liar,” term has evolved over the years to include other derivatives, including Latin for “scoundrel,” Italian for “shyster,” Greek for “con-artist” and early Texan for “piece of horse poop.”

Prostitute

    A person who screws another person for money. See “Lawyer.”

Litigation

    America’s favorite pastime.

Ethics

    In the old English court system, a set of standards or codes outlining the moral principles, conduct and judgment the estate lawyers had to adhere to. No known equivalent in the United States legal system.

Dufus dilecti
Latin for “dead dumb ass,” as in the condition most inherit clients find themselves after dealing with their estate lawyers.

FRIDAY FEAST is closed for the holiday, but Gattina is hosting one herself –Go there if you’d like to participate. [Here's my answers:

Appetizer
Imagine that you are deaf, dumb and insensitive to touch.What other image of happiness could you have?
I would have the memory of what I saw in my life...also, the love of family.

Soup
Do you collect anything?
Ha!! I just added one of my hundreds of Santas today on my blog! -- I also collect anything GWTW and ruby glass [but dust is always being collected around the house!] -see above


Salad
When do you start your Christmas?
I start buying for Christmas right AFTER the following Christmas…but, traditionally things don’t come out of boxes and such until USA’s Thanksgiving Day.


Main Course
What would you do if you were in a corner and a snake was staring you down?
DIE!! [of fright] Either that, or make a new entrance in the wall behind me with my fingernails!!!!!

Dessert
If you were in the library and had gas…
I’d be fanning the book pages violently to make a draft that would float across the table to the other dude –blame it on him!!!

In the meantime, ’til next week folks, for those who served turkey [or roast WHO BEAST] –enjoy those leftovers. For the feasting today, how ’bout some ideas for fixing leftover turkey?

1] Turkey Hash

    Ground cooked turkey, onion, hash-browned potatoes. Mix in skillet, brown over medium heat.


2] Turkey Salad Sandwiches

    Chilled cooked turkey, flaked coarsely. Dried cranberries [you can use any dried fruit], chopped celery, pecan halves. Mix all with mayonnaise. Serve on 12 grain bread.


3] Turkey Stroganov

    Diced cold turkey. Cooked noodles. Mushrooms, and onion. Sour Cream and Cream of Chicken Soup [canned]. In skillet, sautee onion in butter. Add diced turkey, mushrooms. Mix well. Add the cream of chicken soup. Mix well. Slowly stir in sour cream. Heat at low temp. Pour over hot cooked noodles.


4] Hot Roast Turkey Sandwiches

    Heat leftover turkey slices. On plate, add hot mashed potatoes, place turkey over bread slice…pour a generous helping of brown gravy on top of all…serve hot!


5] Monte Carlo Sandwiches

    Sliced turkey, 2 slices of bread. Raspberry jelly. White cheese [slice --I use provolone cheese or swiss] Make sandwich. Dip in beaten egg [both sides] Grill or deep fat fry the sandwich. Serve hot.

Maxine© copyrighted
Hallmark Cards

{ November 16, 2007 @ 11:02 am } · { AWARD, FRI.'S FEAST, Home, Show-N-Tell }
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…join us over at Kelli’s “There is no place like home”!!

This is my set of four Thanksgiving napkin rings. They’re ceramic, white of course, and at this point, just for the photo shot, they’re stuffed!!! With my Autumn colored/print, cotton, napkins…

…and this is a close-up shot to show the detail a bit better. Meet Mr. Tom!! Come Thursday they’ll be well-used and greasy from my infamous brown gravy! hehehehe
[images may be enlarged]

Sharon, from Rose of Sharon so generously awarded me with this beautiful gift! Yes, to me, it’s [as with all I've received in the past] more a gift of friendship and thoughtfulness….to have someone think of me while the awarding comes to their mind. Y’all humble me. And you are so very generous and kind! Thank you so much Sharon. [And I like the fact very much that Sharon passed this on to Mary, who originally gave it to her....that is just super-amazing! I love the idea.]

….and for a little story:

One beautiful December evening Huan Cho and his girlfriend Jung Lee were sitting by the side of the ocean. It was a romantic full moon, when Huan Cho said “Hey baby, let’s play Weeweechu.”

“Oh no, not now, lets look at the moon” said Jung Lee.

“Oh, c’mon baby, let’s you and I play Weeweechu. I love you and it’s the perfect time,” Huan Cho Begged.

“But I rather just hold your hand and watch the moon.”

“Please Jung Lee, just once play Weeweechu with me.”

Jung Lee looked at Huan Chi and said, “OK, we’ll play Weeweechu.”

Huan Cho grabbed his guitar and they both sang…..”Weeweechu a Merry Christmas, Weeweechu a Merry Christmas, Weeweechu a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year.”

FRIDAY’S FEAST

Appetizer
What was your first “real” job?

Head Receptionist at the area’s Chamber of Commerce.

Soup
Where would you go if you wanted to spark your creativity?

Hmmmmmmm, I would say 1st, in my mind. The mind is where the creative ‘juices’ flow!! Then,-CRAFT STORE. After shopping for the items I need to create —I’d go to my “hidey hole” [home office]….that’s the quietest room in the house where I can create with the computer or my sketch pad. Or I can sit in the living room with my crochet project. Sometimes when a bug hits me for something special for dinner, I can create in the kitchen. [But those days are few and far between any more.]

Salad
Complete this sentence: I am embarrassed when…

I most likely can’t finish the sentence….I don’t embarrass much anymore at my age. I really can’t think of anything right now. If I do, I’ll come back and add it later. I have carried a motto with me for decades now, “100 years from now, it’ll make no difference.” Oh sure, I still blush now and then because I goof somewhere along the line —but hey, blushing and actually FEELING embarrassed are two different things. Hence, nothing embarrasses me much. Most often, embarrassment is over trivial things, so why bother?

Main Course
What values did your parents instill in you?

First and foremost…for me, as an individual, Independence. [This value I trusted with my life. And it has carried me through rough times. Both my parents many-a-times told me "Don't depend on anyone to carry you...you must do it yourself!!"]. Also, LOVE of family [and this is just NOT immediate family, it's the "Love thy neighbor" attitude. But don't get me wrong, I can love the neighbor in many ways, laughing with them, crying with them...being there for them in need...] Sharing was a big part of my life when growing up. There’s more, but I wouldn’t bore you any longer. All I can say to add to this is that I had two beautiful, wonderful, loving parents. And they taught me well!! Let’s just get to the good part of the feast….my favorite part to the meal….THE DESSERT!!

Dessert
Name 3 fads from your teenage years. [that'd be the 50's and 60's]

HULA HOOPS

FELT [WITH POODLE AND RHINESTONES] SKIRTS

CAT’S-EYE EYE GLASSES [black, with big 'pointy' frames!]

{ November 9, 2007 @ 11:05 am } · { FRI.'S FEAST, Home, Show-N-Tell }
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…join us over at Kelli’s “There is no place like home”!!

It’s Hootin’ Anni’s AUTUMN in TEXAS Show N Tell—

If you visit here often enough you’ll recall the scarecrow I bought and dressed it up to make it into a witch for the month of Halloween? Well, the ‘crow is now donned with the autumn farmer outfit! You see, hubby came up with the idea [actually since he didn't want to get up on the big ladder to store it up in the attic] to redress it for each occasion. I went along with it. This month, he is outfitted in his brown cords and blue flannel shirt with a cowboy hat. Who knows what I’ll come up with next month, if at all. Bud may have to get up on that ladder afterall!! Another scarecrow is atop a round pedestal table, to his right. Both are surrounded by fall colors/flowers.

I’m making up for lost time. In Colorado, one of my favorite stores was Hobby Lobby. In Tucson, all we had was Michael’s, and comparing the two, I really like Hobby Lobby better. Now that we’re living in Texas….there are Hobby Lobby Stores for me again!! This is the newest scarecrow to grace our home!! The store is a treasure trove of seasonal decorations!! It even has a straw pigtail of hair jutting from the hat. And she’s holding a bouquet of sunflowers. And it’s quite small, she can easily fit into the palm of my hand. Well, maybe my hand is large…either case, she’s adorable and I couldn’t resist taking her home with me.


To the right is a small bale of straw with a couple of tiny pumpkins atop a round legged table. To the left are our football banks [these are used for quarters if there is an interception while watching a game....more if the interception is run for a touchdown]. Autumn season and football go hand in hand at our home.


To the left is a pumpkin pie scented candle amidst an orange colored string of beads [the beads were originally used for Christmas, and red at one time ---the sunlight in our home made them discolor, to orange], and autumn leaves. To the right is two Native American figurines [a 'Brave and his Wife'] atop orange webbing, with a ceramic pumpkin candy dish in the center.

And lastly, the fiber optic scarecrow! He’s a leftover from Halloween, but I always keep him up to be part of the Autumn festiveness for us. He’s really quite cute with his falling suspender [yes, many-a-times I've tried to pull it up over his shoulder more, but it doesn't budge. Call me obsessive!]

Speaking of shopping and me donned in my clothing with the scarlet letter “S” – for shopaholic:

1] I don’t need therapy. I need money.

2] How can I be overdrawn? I still have checks left.

3] Two can live as cheaply as one–for half as long.

4] Dear IRS, Please cancel my subscription.

FRIDAY’S FEAST

Appetizer
Which snack do you like to get when you go to the movies?

I love movies!! But, there’s a lot to be desired these days, the movies just aren’t as well-written OR directed like before, so we wait to buy them –in the long run, they’re cheaper, and we get to see them over and over!!
My movie snacks: A big tub of buttered popcorn, a box of Junior Mints, and a small drink.

Soup
What year did you start using the internet?

About 12 years ago, that would be 1995.

Salad
What is your first name in Pig Latin?

Ootinhay Nniay When I sound this in my head, I’m thinking that maybe I should reside in the pig sty!! Ightray?

Main Course
Name something you are picky about.

How my steak is cooked!
It must have all the fat trimmed off!
It must be sizzling hot on the outside, with grill marks charred.
It must be juicy inside but still warm.
It must be a light pink in the center.
It must be Medium Rare.

Dessert
Fill in the blanks: I ____ ____ yesterday and I ____ ____ today.

Oh my….somewhere in the time span I cleaned a cat litter box, but I can’t figure out how to phrase it as we should.

[I really should consider buying these self cleaning litter cat toidies!]

But, instead of hurting my brain cells trying to figure out how to put cleaning cat litter box into two words to fill in the blank spaces, I’ll go with this:

I crocheted some yesterday and I will crochet today.

{ November 2, 2007 @ 10:52 am } · { FRI.'S FEAST, Home, Show-N-Tell, TAG }
{ Leave a Comment }


…join us over at Kelli’s “There is no place like home”!!

I truly love these last three months of the year [October, November and December]!!! It’s a great deal of fun trying to make the house festive for the special days ahead. So, I’ve packed my Halloween stuff away in boxes yesterday, and got them back in the storage this morning, and brought out the Autumn Decorations…..

Once again, it’s Friday. That means it’s time for Show N Tell! I must say that this is one of my favorite memes. In fact, when our kids were small and still in school…I had fun with them trying to pick out something to take to school for their show n tell!! So, now that that is said and done and October is over, it’s time to think “Turkey Day” around our home!

And for me, it’s not Autumn and our country’s Thanksgiving without a cornucopia. [That's a hard word to spell! *giggles* I always want an 'a' between the corn-, and the -copia, and spell check lets me know I'm a dumby!!!] And with this, I show you the centerpiece on our dining room table. It consists of quite a few little things. A very small cornucopia, filled with autumn leaves and tiny pine cones. Right at the tip of the opening is a miniature ceramic scarecrow.

On either side I’ve placed two new autumn – faceless and graceful looking angels that I picked up at a local supermarket [HEB's---you Texans will know that name]. The wings are iron with leaves entwined in and around. Also, you’ll notice the two turkeys, in the second photo. They’re actually salt and pepper shakers. [My mother's. Her collecting fetish was salt/pepper sets - and yes, the seasonings come out the rear end! Which dear hubby thinks is "the best hootin' fun a guy can have on Turkey Day", except for Dallas Cowboy games.] Tossed here and there are orange, green and maroon maple leaves.

[images can be enlarged]

Letter to a friend from a man at a health farm: “Help! Send me a file with a cake in it.“

FRIDAY’S FEAST

Appetizer
How much money do you plan to spend this upcoming holiday season?

LOL….I don’t spend money…it’s all on plastic. How’s that for getting off cheap? [I know, I know...lol]

Soup
What was the last television show you watched, and was it good?

Some weird thing on Sci Fi last night….really weird. I think I dozed off. It was something hubby wanted to see….me, no!

Salad
If you had to paint the walls of your living room tomorrow, what color would you choose?

Awwwwwwwww, come on. I just finished this year repainting walls. It’s two toned—light turquoise on top…dark sea blue-turquoise on the bottom. The two colors are separated by a carved wood quarter-round.

Main Course
Name something clever or practical you have thought of that should be invented, but hasn’t yet.

Funny, I was just saying to hubby this week; a couple of bank robberies in our city —with that, I was wondering why these banks don’t figure out a way to add cameras to the bank tellers’ counters—it’s pointing right up to the ‘robber’s face!!! I don’t know if that’s an ‘invention’….but it’s a great idea. Close-ups!! Robbers. Good idea, cameras.

Butch Cassidy: “[spanish] Manos a… Manos, um…”
[Butch pulls out a card that helps him remember his words]
Butch Cassidy: “Manos arriba!”
Sundance Kid: “They got ‘em up! Skip on down.”
Butch Cassidy: “Arriba!”
Sundance Kid: “Skip on down!”
Butch Cassidy: “Todos ustedes “arrismense” a la pared.”
Sundance Kid: “They’re against the wall already!”
Butch Cassidy: “Donde… Ah, you’re so damn smart, You read it! “

~From my all time favorite Western movie….Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Now I could go for those two guys coming in to rob ME!! *giggles*

Dessert
List 3 things you would like to receive as gifts this upcoming holiday season.

Well, to wish in one hand and poop in the other …which one would fill the quicker? So…since wishes are JUST THAT —wishes, I’ll list three extravagances…
1]A million dollars
2]Round the World Trip
3]DIAMONDS.

hehehehehe

Dear Mary has tagged me with
SEVEN RANDOM FACTS.

1] I am not a neat freak!! Ever since I was a kid, I had to share a room with my sister. HER half of the room was neat, and uncluttered….while my side was ‘unmade’ and stuff scattered everywhere. Now, hubby is always picking up after me as he is such a neat and ‘everything in its place’ kinda guy….me leaving a bottle of water on the table brings out his obsessive behavior to get it back in the refrigerator. So, I leave things lying around *shrug*…..Eventually it will get picked up by him, if not? —give me a week or two. Hehehehehe

2] This morning the fog is really thick outdoors! I think, of all the weather phenomenons —-FOG is my favorite.

3] Roses are my favorite flower. Scarlett Knight is my all time favorite rose ‘color’!!

4] When it comes to wood finishing….I love the deep, dark, rich browns [mahogany, dark cherry] best. Light wood colors seem sickly and pale. [light oak, etc.]

5] After all these years, I still drool over a man in a uniform!!

6] I will NOT eat margarine!!!

7] I love to challenge myself with arts & crafts [tho, I don't find time enough to do it as often as I like, now that the computer has been part of my life---but, I am getting back into "the swing" again]

….and since I don’t tag anyone myself, just feel free to list seven random statements of yourself, and I’d be happy to read ‘em!!! Let me know.

{ October 26, 2007 @ 1:45 pm } · { FRI.'S FEAST }
{ Leave a Comment }

- – -

“I worry about scientists discovering that lettuce has been fattening all along….”

Appetizer
Name a great website you would recommend to others.

GOOGLE is just about the only one I use often enough to recommend. So, nothing much here on the Appetizer this week folks.

Soup
On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 as highest), how often do you dream at night?

I can’t really say here. 90% of dreams are not remembered upon waking —so, can’t tell you. Now the one’s I remember, well, they’re the ones that you don’t want to even count! One maybe? Who knows. *shrug*


Salad
Did you have a pet as a child? If so, what kind and what was its name?

A red persian cat. Named George.


Main Course
If you had the chance to star in a commercial, what would you choose to advertise?

Probably some beer commercial. They’re always so funny and enjoyable. Or a certain insurance company too —I’d like to meet that duck that can talk! Wouldn’t you? “AFLAC”.

Dessert
What is your favorite kind of hard candy?

First, let me ask you this: “Would Luden’s Cherry flavored Cough Drops be considered candy?” Love the cherry!!! No? Okay, then this: Brach’s Cinnamon…no, wait–Brach’s Butterscotch. But then again, the peppermint is good also. Oh shucky darn, it’s HARD to say. Just gimme!!!

{ October 19, 2007 @ 11:43 am } · { FRI.'S FEAST, HALLOWEEN, Show-N-Tell }
{ Leave a Comment }

- – - -

A candle’s glow in the dark!



Each Halloween Night, when it gets dark, and we’re eating our dinner. The house is darkened and the numerous candles around for decoration pieces are lighted. The eerie glow makes for a great spooky evening. The two of us pop in a movie to fit the night’s theme and dine by candlelight while watching a horror movie! The top two photos are on our fireplace’s mantle on each side of my fiber optic scarecrow…it’s huge!! [and reminiscent of Chucky the evil doll mixed with a little of the scarecrow in Jeepers Creepers]. It too is lighted for the night. [You can see the scarecrow if you come back on Monday I'm standing by the fireplace with my Fun Monday assignment.] Besides the brass holders, on each side near the brick are gargoyles –one on each side. I used only the sunlight filtering through to snap these two photos, so they’re kinda dark. Orange and black candles. In the middle photo you see my black candelabra with black candles. Most years this is encased in spider webbing, but since I was operated on, I haven’t had the ‘umphf’ it takes to do many extras this year. Just sitting them out without much ado. Then, the two candle photos below are 1) the skull light; sitting on the dining room hutch. It has a tea candle inside. The eyes glow with the yellow orange shades of the flickering light. And, 2) below the skull candle holder are the three smaller ceramic ghosts and one larger ghost with a tealight candle all are sitting beside my black wrought iron spider basket, with white candles, naturally…..

Appetizer
If you were a dog, what breed would you be, and why?

With my heritage I’d more than likely be an Irish Wolfhound, and for the lack of the typical Irish red hair, I couldn’t be the Irish Setter –but, I do SIT a lot. On second thought, within the last few generations, I could also be considered a MUTT!!

Soup
What does the color purple make you think of?

Several things. Right now, the baseball team, Rockies. Then going along on the “several things” —purple mountains’ magesty, shades of purple seen in sunsets, plums, grapes, one of our bedrooms [the walls], my birthstone…..etc.


Salad
Approximately how long does it take you to get ready each morning?

Ready? Ready for what? This could mean a whole slew of things. If the general idea is determined here, I’m ready and awake within minutes of getting out of bed. I don’t work outside the home any longer…so, there is actually no “getting ready”….if I get out of bed each morning, that’s ready to face the day!!! If it’s ready to go somewhere, I’m partially ready by then ’cause I’m dressed —by putting shoes on, I’m considered ready. The term getting ready is just too vague here.


Main Course
How many cousins do you have, and are you close to them?

Are you kidding me? I wouldn’t have any idea without a calculator!!! I just don’t have that many toes and fingers to count ‘em!! Let me put it this way….my mom had 8 brothers and 1 sister. Of those, only two remained unmarried, so technically I don’t know if the “single” had any kids –they were uncles and you know what they say?—”Everyone knows who their mother is, but no-one knows for sure who their father is”….these two uncles could have fathered some kids and there’s ‘no record’….right? Who knows. *shrug* So, [2+6+2+4+3+1+0+0+4=22 cousins]. My dad had two sisters [5+4=9] – all together 31!! And we all grew up and lived in different states, so the ‘familia’ is not strong at all. We know of each other and have had visits from time to time, but there is no closeness other than a week or two here or a day there. I am closer with my nieces and nephews being that I was a lot younger than my siblings and I more or less grew up with them instead of cousins!!!

Dessert
Take your initials (first, middle, last) and come up with something else those letters could stand for. (Example: SFO = Sweet Funny Otter)

H A which equals to: ha ha ha ha!!!

*PS -I could use my FULL Name with initials!!! Greta Olivia Temperance Catherine Harriet Annabelle!!! That would spell GOTCHA!!! But I won’t use those names today. ;o) I’ll stick with my first and last names….Hootin’ Anni. HA HA HA!!! Shorter that way.

A different week. And new and different treats handed out.
This week’s treat:

Each day up until Halloween [October 31st]
I will be handing out
a treat for 1 – 5[one to five] bloggers who drop by
during the week for visiting.
You’re more than welcomed to pass it along
to ones you think are deserving of a special treat
for the season.
Kinda like “Pay it Forward”
Y’know, one goodwill gesture deserves another?
But DON’T just choose your friends
making this cliquish and ‘just groupies’…
Make NEW friends by choosing random visitors!!!
It seems that ‘awards’ are floating around blogland
and just “blog friends” get chosen all the time.
Make it RANDOM!!

If you do decide to share it with others
then, USE THIS “TREAT” IMAGE and
link it back to my blog and
explain where the idea originated.
Click on the image to expand and then save for displaying on your blog if you choose.

MY TREATS TODAY GO TO:

Puss in Boots @ Kat’s Cradle

Paisley @ Paisley’s Blog o rama

Kat @ Kat’s Krackerbox

Laura @ The Safe Harbor

Heidi @ Hydes Like Us:

{ October 12, 2007 @ 10:28 am } · { FRI.'S FEAST, HALLOWEEN, Show-N-Tell }
{ Leave a Comment }

- – - -

Continuing with the Halloween theme for the month of October, I will show and tell about these items sitting on the dining room table; and more. In Colorado, way back in the early 1980′s I spied and bought, the witch’s curled-up pointy-toed shoe, candy dish [center]. Of course with our family loving the fun of Halloween, we all thought it was a super touch to the garish decor we do for the ‘holiday’. But the ironic part of this story is: Nearly twenty years later, I was shopping; actually looking for nothing in particular, and I found these…the exact, matching, witch’s shoe candle holders in the Foothills Mall in Tucson. The same pattern and the exact same finishing gloss. Naturally they’re now part of the centerpiece on the dining room table. [In case you're interested --inside the candy dish is hard candies...butterscotch, cinnamon, peppermint, and spearmint hard candies]

This is one of two miniature witches that is part of my witch collection. At the store, I believe it was Hobby Lobby, I saw both of the two witches and thought immediately of my “Witch in Arms” long time online friend. We’ve been snail mail and email and group online friends for over ten years! She lives miles and miles across the sea from me….in Northern Europe! But the one of many things we have in common, is our love for Halloween. Call us kids at heart—we both just have oodles of fun during the month, Halloween!! [Isn't Halloween a month? And isn't there a word 'oodles'?]

Now, this little gal is the second miniature witch. The two can lock arms as to represent me and my long time Halloween-lover friend of mine! I love the bright colors on both, the shiny, glossy finish, and the fact that by putting the two close together each year I can think of the super lady across the ocean and *cackle* each time I pass by! Oh, I suppose your curiosity has come to a peak by now. You’re wanting to know just who my “Witch in Arms” is. Let me tell you a bit about her…the way we ‘met’ online. She was already a part of an online group—when I joined she was the very first one to drop by my website [remember websites?] and sign my guestbook. She was the sweetest then, and still the best of friends [Now, Mutti....you too!! *inside joke*]. Okay, okay —I’ll tell you right now without further delay. Her name is Lisa. And she too has a blog! Her nickname is Liberty Belle. Dear Lisa is the one that dubbed us “Witches in Arms” And, I like it. These two adorable little gals are on the countertop. And we’ll soon be locked ‘arm in arm’ when Halloween finally arrives. The part that makes me jealous is Lisa has Halloween about eight hours before I do!!

Okay, slap me silly. Tell me I’m a bad mother….but for years, I’ve been trying to convince Irene [our daughter] to get a tattoo. At the age of 50 I got one, and I wouldn’t change the fact that I did get one for the world. I designed my own, and took the drawing/sketch into a tattoo parlor one day, and asked the artist: “Can you do this for me?” He looked closely and said, “Sure”! I said: “When?” He said: “How ’bout now”? And so it goes. It took about 2 1/2 hours with one break in between. Tell me I’m bad…a rebel without a cause. Anything you wish. I love my tattoo. As long as they’re tastefully done…and just ONE on my body….I think they’re cool. When I opened my email this afteroon, there was one from Irene with attachments….I had no idea what the attachments were. I thought maybe Clint was getting married. I thought she DID go out and buy a van, we once talked of this on the phone a few days back….I just wouldn’t have dreamed she went and did it!!!! A tattoo!!! How cool is that? All hers!!! *snort* Little does she know that her ol’ mom is sharing her bared shoulder too!

Being a single parent, it’s representing the three of them! Her two sons, and herself. The ‘herself’ is Christian and Irish [with a Celtic cross] and the two sons are their zodiacal signs—Taurian bull zodiac behind the cross and the Pisces sign in the center of the cross. I love the fact that she designed her tattoo like I did mine…we’re both wearing originals. Not Gucci, Ralph Lauren, or catwalk material, but ones of a kind never-the-less.


Each day up until Halloween [October 31st]
I will be handing out
a treat for 1 – 5[one to five] bloggers who drop by
during the week for visiting.
You’re more than welcomed to pass it along
to ones you think are deserving of a special treat
for the season.
Kinda like “Pay it Forward”
Y’know, one goodwill gesture deserves another?
But DON’T just choose your friends
making this cliquish and ‘just groupies’…
Make NEW friends by choosing random visitors!!!
- – Yes – -
Make it RANDOM!!

If you do decide to share it with others
then, USE THIS “TREAT” IMAGE and
link it back to my blog and
explain where the idea originated.
Click on the image to expand and then save for displaying on your blog if you choose.

MY TREATS TODAY GO TO:

BLOGGERS @ Working At Home Mom

SUSIE @ SusieJ

~ ~ ~
Thursday’s Recipients
Wednesday’s Recipients
Tuesday’s Recipients
Monday’s Recipients
Sunday’s Recipients

5:00 AM

Appetizer
When was the last time you were surprised?

Just last week! Two times. A tattoo on my daughter’s shoulder. And, It really wasn’t a surprise per sé, but a wonderful surprise at that!!! Colorado Rockies [baseball team of my home state] won the NL Division Championship Series…sweeping the Philadelphia Phillies!!! [and last night they played the first series of the best 4 out of 7 for the league title, and won!!!]

Soup
Fill in the blanks: My eyes are ________, but I wish they were __________.

HUH? This is odd —Okay, maybe My eyes are tired, but I wish they were not.

Salad
If you were a Beanie Baby, what would you look like and what would your name be?

Oh lordy, who comes UP with these? They must lose some sleep now and then, trying to think of them. *giggles*
Let’s see, a Beanie Baby…okay, I’d be white, with a blue and orange mane…my name would be THUNDER the BRONCO [horse]. Oops, another Colorado team. But so far this season, Thunder, isn’t cheering!!!

Main Course
Name two things you consistently do that you consider to be healthy habits.

Walking and walking!!! The third thing I do consistently for health?—More walking.

Dessert
What brand of toothpaste are you using these days? Do you like it? Why or why not?

Rembrandt. Ya, it’s okay. Can’t say that I get overly excited about toothpaste tho.

Who comes UP with these?

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