Let's get on with a new year! HHPP

Health, Happiness, Prosperity and Peace

The Next Generation

When people wish they could foresee the future, they don't take into consideration the seconds, minutes, hours and days that go with the wish...just the end result. And oh what things we would miss...
Happy Anniversary to my wonderful son and his wife. May all your moments be full of joy and anticipation and wonderment. I love you both
MOM

Sleigh bells ringing

Went to GW yesterday and found 6 awesome cut glass wine glasses that fit in my trailer size glass holder...Every time I sneeze or move about the RV, they jingle :o)

 

 

 

 

Cracker Barrel and swollen feet

One week of eating breakfast at Cracker Barrel restaurants on the trip down to Florida resulted in swollen feet from all the salt in their yummy ham and bacon...Why is it that everything that tastes so great is sooooo bad for you...back to eating sensibly...sigh

Destination Miami

The slide is repaired, minus trim...We head for Miami first thing tomorrow, armed with new directions to bypass Jacksonville thanks to Leo and Gail, who we met at SOB...They winter at Manatee Hammock so we will see them in March when we head north again. There is never a day when we fail to learn new things...Happy hour started without us yesterday but Kitty called today to fill me in :o)
Peter caught a cold from the little germ spreaders...I guess we're getting the Cr*p over with early...

Georgia on our mind

Darn...double darn...We have to stay an extra night in Georgia because the weld holding the slide mechanism broke...Luckily there is a welder at the KOA who can fix it. Our trailer won't look too pretty but at least we can get the slide out

Heading south

Things to work on in Florida

Winter Wonderland

It's a beautiful sunshiny day with a blanket of snow covering the everything..Hard to believe in one week we will be in a tropical paradise sipping wine beneath the Avocado trees.

? Tiger Woods

Did you touch the iron?
Nooooo!

One week til Grandyummies

If all goes according to plan, We'll get to see our children and grandchildren in one week!!!!

No help this year

"When a soldier comes home..."

*WHEN A SOLDIER COMES HOME**
This email is being circulated around the world - please keep it going**
*

When a soldier comes home, he finds it hard.....
..to listen to his son whine about being bored.

....to keep a straight face when people complain about potholes.

to be tolerant of people who complain about the hassle of
getting ready for work.

...to be understanding when a co-worker complains about a bad night's sleep.

..to be silent when people pray to God for a new car.

...to control his panic when his wife tells him he needs to drive slower.

..to be compassionate when a businessman expresses a fear of flying.

....to keep from laughing when anxious parents say they're afraid to

send their kids off to summer camp.

....to keep from ridiculing someone who complains about hot weather.

....to control his frustration when a colleague gripes about his coffee
being cold.

....to remain calm when his daughter complains about having to walk the
dog.

......to be civil to people who complain about their jobs.

....to just walk away when someone says they only get two weeks of vacation
a year.

....to be forgiving when someone says how hard it is to have a new baby in
the house.

*The only thing harder than being a Soldier...* * *

Is loving one.

I was asked to pass this on and I will gladly do so,

Will you???

Good thoughts needed!!!

My nephew Travis underwent surgery this afternoon to remove lymph nodes and a biopsy. They are keeping him overnight for observation...We're hoping it is just a severe infection and not that other thing...I will keep you all updated.

Can you picture this?

Wii bowling to be held Wednesday

GLENS FALLS - The Glens Falls Seniors will be having a Wii bowling tournament from 10:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Wednesday at the center.

Waiting to exhale

Peter went for his biyearly cancer checkup yesterday and the results this morning were excellent. His PSA # was the same as 6 months ago so he has a clean bill of health til the next checkup in May...after that he will only have to go yearly because it will be the 5 year mark...

Empty nest

Hooray!!!!

Blatantly copied from Google's quote of the day...I always suspected...

Sometimes people are layered like that. There's something totally different underneath than what's on the surface. But sometimes, there's a third, even deeper level, and that one is the same as the top surface one. Like with pie.
  - Joss Whedon, Zack Whedon, Maurissa Tancharoen, and Jed Whedon

No Go

Mom offered to buy me a dog and there was a 2 year old female white toy poodle on craigslist...still available because Peter is not ready to replace Feebee...It's been almost a year, and we still miss her every day

Friends don't need tags

I dropped by to visit my friend Al today...I can do that. Al doesn't have a computer...He was building a new porch on the front of his 18th century house that he rescued from disrepair. He also has rescued (with his partner) 4 children, 3 surviving, who without their 2 foster dads would be dead by now or worse. The 2 have a beautiful home, a funny, romantic, loving family and an outlook far beyond what most couples can imagine...Though they don't need a law that allows them to legally  bound to each other, they deserve one, and I will celebrate their wedding as a renewal of vows, long past spoke.

OhOH

Best Buy has 0% for 18 months if you spend $499 or more...We are now the proud owners of an ipod touch (welcome to the next century, Peter) a humongous tiny external hard drive and various other delectable electronics...Everything seems to be working so play we must...

Look what the dog is having for dinner...

 

What else?...Penguin~

Hardeharhar 

Where did I put...

Stress can make you sick...chill

Grandma can see you...

MY HERO

Don't mess with Mother nature...

Some of you know that we replaced the north side of our foundation last month, which contributed to the following scenario.
Stage right at foot of stairs:
Mary feels something furry at her toes; looks down and screams as humongous (well 5")rat sinks his teeth into her bare foot...picture middle aged girly moment
Panic ensues and doctor is called when one tiny droplet of blood appears at the base of little toe. In the mean time, rat has disappeared into the closet under the stairs.
An hour later, Mary has returned home from her first Dr's visit in six years, Tetnus updated, antibiotics in hand and waiting to see if the CDC thinks the rat bite warrants Rabies shots..The rat is still in the closet, unaware of the giant trap being set for him...
3:00...No Rabies shots needed...The Rat set off the trap and screamed but escaped...He is either dead or cunning..
Story to be continued...

scary stuff

You know you're in Vermont when...

Shopping in Aldi's, these delectables were near the checkout

Bad Thoughts...

On September 17th, my former sister-in law lost a nephew to the conflict in Afghanistan.
I am guilty of being thankful that my son and my daughter-in-law were returned to us after serving in Iraq and that no matter how tough their lives may be sometimes, they have time, a commodity no one can make more of and once it ends, those that live on are changed forever...

Pfc. Jeremiah Monroe Dies In Afghanistan

Posted on Friday, 18 of September , 2009 at 3:05 pm

BRANT LAKE—Pfc. Jeremiah Monroe of Brant Lake has died while serving with the U.S. Army in Afghanistan.

 Monroe’s mother was notified Thursday afternoon.

According to the U.S. Department of Defense, Monroe died Sept. 17 while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Handahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device.  He was assigned to the 7th Engineer Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), at Fort Drum.

He had joined the Army in March 2008 and arrived at Fort Drum in July 2008.  This was his first deployment.

He had been awarded the Purple Heart, National Defense Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and Combat Action Badge.

Monroe, 33, was the son of the late Rob Monroe and Dolores (Peanut) Monroe of Brant Lake. He had last been home on leave in March following the death of his 51-year-old father of brain cancer. 

Monroe’s death is the fourth in his family this year. He leaves behind a 9-year-old daughter, Delilah Rose. 9-18-09  (Updated 9-19-09

How to Make Gummy Bears: 9 steps - wikiHow

How to Make Gummy Bears: 9 steps - wikiHow

I am not happy with this...none of it is mine

There's a 30 x 40 barn underneath all this
I did buy the boxes so technically they are mine...Home depot has great boxes ranging from 18" square and up...

Fiction is a way to tell the truth while protecting the innocent

Move in ready...almost

The last full load of Mom's 40 year accumulation made the 60 mile trip to our barn today...It's sad but *I have to say it's an adorable house without all that stuff in it...somewhere where a new family can start their 40 year accumulation...Be happy, new owners to be...the alternative sucks

Work smart

No matter how I rearrange, there is just too much to fit

The first sign of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results

No matter how I rearrange, there is just too much to fit

Repeat after me

I do not need more storage...I need less stuff...I do not need more storage...I need less stuff...I do not need more storage...I need less stuff...I do not need more storage...I need less stuff....I do not need more storage...I need less stuff...I do not need more storage...I need less stuff...I do not need more storage...I need less stuff

Never buy a house that comes with a barn...

When my son was about 13, we bought him a basketball hoop. Until that point, he had very few friends that visited him at home. Change was imminent as soon as the net went up. every day after school, there were a half a dozen sweaty adolescent boys in my driveway, trying to fit the ball in the basket.
A barn is like that...I had visions of a country store or an artist studio . Instead, I have the equivalent of another 12 room house filled with other peoples stuff...I'm so depressed

Eco-crafting

I'm cleaning my office (or rather looking at all this stuff and wondering why I'm keeping it) so I decided to make use of as many things as I could for one craft.
The scroll saw cut the vinyl records which I softened in boiling water to make these awesome bracelets and barrette. I use the Pazzle to cut the flower petals and cuff shapes out of found materials long waiting in my office for their purpose...not finished by any means...just taking a breather...
Enjoy

and there they sat...

Someone is about to get lucky...

Mom's house is officially on the market today, just as my son found out his offer on a house is accepted...The universe is like that...sell;buy;find;lose;love;hate; .lalalalala

Not all laborers are created equal...

While the boys we hired to rebuild the foundation were hunkalicious (yeah, I know I shouldn't say that) and hard not to look at, one of the mover-packer guys I hired to help me at Mom's house caused a similar reaction. In the 80 + heat, his toupee slipped sideways and the elmer's glue holding it in place started dripping from the hairline......Not wanting to jeopardize the quality of the finished job, I have been averting my eyes for the past 2 days...tomorrow, I pay them and we part ways and I can finally laugh out loud :-0

Day off!!!

Not really but at least I'm home for the next 2 days. The guys I've hired to help me clean out Mom's house have talen out 6 extended van loads so far and Saturday they will help me bring down the rest (I hope)...

Money well spent

If you have to spend $9,000 on a new foundation, it's a real plus if it's done by two good looking twenty something guys who sing while they work...

Beyond scrapbooking with Pazzles

I can't believe there are so few people out there using their cutters for art and crafts? Would love to see what others are doing...here's an example of my candles...

A lovely start to the day

Can you dream calories?

One should never watch the Food Network after making a ho-hum dinner. I will be dreaming of Coconut Cream pie, cinnabuns, Hash and eggs......My hips will be 10 inches bigger when I wake up tommorrow

How to Make Cookie Cutters

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

There are various kits you can buy to help you make your own cookie cutters. Here's an easy way that uses materials you probably have in your home already.

Steps

1. Draw straight lines onto the bottom of an aluminum lasagna pan going lengthwise, using a ruler and permanent marker to be sure the edges are straight. Make the lines at least 1" apart and fill up as much of the bottom of the pan as possible.
   
2. Using your heavy duty scissors, cut the sides off the aluminum pan and then cut out your strips that you drew onto the bottom of the pan. Be careful, cutting aluminum can give you cuts and nicks in your fingers. Wearing gloves is a good idea.
   
3. Set aside your 1" aluminum strips and start designing on your paper. Keep in mind that you only have as much length as your strips to work with. To help you gauge the size of your designs, draw out your design on paper and then use string to measure the outline. Hold the string up to the strip and see if the strip is long enough. Also, since you're working with metal, give 1"-2" allowance for curves and so you can properly close your cookie cutters when you're finished shaping them.
   
4. Take one of your 1" aluminum strips and start molding it around your design. To help make curves, use pens or cups. To make 90 degree edges, use table edges or your ruler. Use anything around the house, just be creative!
   
5. To close your cookie cutter, overlap the ends of the aluminum strips and staple together more than once (three times is a charm!).
   
6. Use a metal file to grind down any nicks and burrs on the edges that will hurt you. Wash and dry your cutter thoroughly before cutting out your cookie dough.
   

Tips

• For sturdier cookie cutters, go to a hardware store and buy some 1" copper or aluminum ribbon. These will last forever, but to seal the ends together, you will need 2-sided tape and some clamps to hold the ends together as it sets. Wash these metal strips in soap and water before taping together, as they may have oil on them that would interfere with the tape bonding.
  
• To help fold the ribbon into the design, first draw out the design on paper. Then, trace the pattern onto wood and cut out the piece of wood. Mold the ribbon around the wood. Alternatively, you can cut out the design on 3-5 pieces of cardboard and tape them together instead of using wood.
  
• Don't have too many long skinny parts or tight curves, as these won't translate well to a cookie. Remember you are making cookie cutters and details will be lost when you bake the cookie dough because it expands in the oven.
  
• If you want to reuse the cookie cutters or store them away, don't pile anything on top of them that could deform the shape.
  
• Washing your cutters by hand will help them last longer.
  

Warnings

• Cutting aluminum metal will give you small cuts or nicks on your fingers, even if you're careful.
  
• Not recommended for small children.
  
• The permanent marker will smudge a bit because it doesn't adhere to aluminum too well, but it will be easy to clean off once your cookie cutters are finished.
  
• Once finished, the cookie cutters will be a bit fragile. Be careful when cutting the cookies, as the cutter may deform somewhat.
  

Things You'll Need

• Large Disposable Aluminum Lasagna or Roasting Pan (Rectangular is best)
  
• Heavy Duty Scissors
  
• Permanent Marker
  
• Ruler
  
• Stapler
  
• Paper (to draw your designs on)
  
• String
  
• Newspaper or Cardboard to cover the work surface
  

Related wikiHows

• How to Bake Cookies
  
• How to Make Christmas Ornaments with Dough
  
• How to Make Gingerbread Men Cookies
  
• How to Make Rice Sandwiches
  

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Make Cookie Cutters. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Secondhand lion

Icesis on the farm