Whimsical Fashion Fun 2021...

 Just a little name change for the new year but there are still no rules and there isn't a linky.
Check out the model and let us know which shoes she should wear!
It is all for fun and is just a whimsical thing!

(Photos always from Storybook of Dreams & Beauty.)

She is off on a winter vacation in the tropics!!  Lucky girl!!
But she needs some shoes to go with her slacks and 1960s style crop top...

#1

#2

#3

My thoughts:  FINALLY some shoes I could wear!!  I think they are all cute but would pick #2 if she is going to be doing some walking to see the sites.  We can always dream!!  What are your thoughts?

Peace & hugs!!  Jesus loves you!

The Last Hodgepodge of 2020...

 Thanks, Joyce, for another fun Hodgepodge!  Join in HERE!

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 401

1. Tell us about your favorite moment or share one of the bright spots from the year we're leaving behind.  The brightest was having our youngest son visit for a week back in March, just before the shutdowns started.  Then another brightest spot was in November when our oldest son returned from nearly a year in the Middle East.  

2. What do you wish you'd known at the start of 2020? Elaborate. I would have bought some extra TP and a few cases of water.  We never ran out of TP but did have to do without my bottled water for a few weeks.  Who knew so many people would start hoarding!!  At least, here in Florida things weren't as bad as it was in other areas of the country.

3. Best book you read this year? If you did not read any books this year, what's the best thing you ate all year? We've all eaten, right?  I don't read 'heavy' subjects. I read for entertainment and have read quite a few very fun Cozy Mysteries but the best was Janet Evanovich's #27 Stephanie Plum book.  As for eating... I had an amazing birthday dinner...

4. The Pantone Colors of the year for 2021 are ultimate gray and illuminating yellow (a bright shade)...are you a fan? Would we find either of these colors in your home or wardrobe?  I do have some gray and some yellow in my closet AND in our house. I have always liked gray and yellow together and years ago had a gray dress I wore yellow jewelry with (long gone from my closet).  

5. If you were/are making a list of 21 things to do/accomplish in 2021 what is one thing that would be on it?  I don't make resolutions OR lists of things to do/accomplish anymore.  We take it day-by-day now that we are retired, have limited funds, and are usually just not that motivated! LOL  Keep the house clean, eat well, stay in touch with loved ones...

6. Insert your own random thought here.  Our new neighbors just pulled up in their rented truck as I type this on Tuesday afternoon, so we are excited to get to know Susan and Chuck better, and tomorrow our friends, Elaine and  Jim (and their dog, Bella) will be arriving for three months in the house on our other side!!  Exciting!! 

Peace & hugs!  Jesus loves you!!

A Happy New Year Tuesday 4...

 Thanks to Annie, you can join the Tuesday 4 HERE!

Happy New Year!!

 Happy New Year and welcome once again to Tuesday 4 where we remember and honor the memory of our friend Toni Taddeo who began Tuesday4.

The Times Square ball first dropped on December 31, 1907. It is 12 feet in diameter and covered with Swarovski crystals. 

1.  Despite the weirdness of this past year, was it still a good year for you anyway or not?  We were blessed to not have suffered too much because of all the shutdowns but we know many who lost much, including loved ones.

2. How will you spend New Year's Eve?  We have two other couples invited to spend time with us.  Will we make it to midnight?  Who knows!?

3. What do you do on New Year's Day? Is football part of the agenda?  Joe has not been watching the NFL so I doubt there will be football on TV.  I will be cooking and we have folks invited to join us for dinner.

4. It's a Scottish tradition to kiss at midnight.  Do you keep that tradition? Yes, Joe and I always kiss and wish each other a blessed new year. (I am 51% Scottish, by the way.)  Does everyone get a kiss if you do?  Not this year... we will keep our kisses in the family!! LOL

Peace & hugs!  Jesus loves you!

Monday's Weekend Recap...

Our Christmas Eve service at church was lovely.  My friend, Shirley, met us there and sat with us.  It was so good to have her with us again this year.  She lost her husband last year and her son, who lives in Texas, was here during the holidays and they both came to the Christmas Eve service with us last year. 

I tried to capture the beauty of the candles in the dark church but my phone camera had different ideas.

There were luminaries lining the driveway as we left the church and headed home. So pretty!

Our evening was very quiet.  I made us a stir-fry for dinner and we watched a couple of Christmas movies, including another Scrooge.  We opened our gifts to each other.  I got Joe a Galaxy3 Smart Watch and two Villanova masks (his college). Also some candy in his stocking.  He got me a purse I wanted and a sterling silver chain I had my eye on, as well as lots of sweets in the stocking.  

Christmas morning, I started cooking our Christmas dinner.  Helen and Cheryl were due at 2:00 p.m.  We had a Honeybaked ham, Au gratin potatoes, green beans, deviled eggs, pickles, and dinner rolls. It was a very casual day and I even used paper plates (gasp!). For only four of us...

My 'casual' and silly Catmas shirt.

We received so many cards this year!  They are doubled and tripled in the clips!  Many are from some of you and I thank you for the greetings!!

Here are Joe, Helen, and Cheryl at the table.

I did some laundry on Saturday and not much else. Leftover ham for dinner!  We went to church yesterday.  It is COLD here these past few days but will be warmer later this week. I took down the outside Christmas decorations but will leave the inside until after the first.  Our friends, Jim & Elaine, are due to arrive on Wednesday and we have invited them and Tim & Judy for New Year's Eve.  On New Year's Day, we will have Helen & Cheryl, and Jim & Elaine (if they want to) for the traditional pork and kraut meal. Because we are in the south, we add black-eyed peas, too. Some day this week, before the 31st, I need to do some grocery shopping!  That's the plan!

Peace & hugs!!  Jesus loves you!

Sunday Stealing...

Thanks to Bev Sykes for today's questions!  Join in HERE. 

For those who celebrate Christmas #2

  

 

Hi! I'm your host Bev 2 Sykes of the blog "Funny the World". . Welcome to Sunday Stealing. This feature originated 

and published on WTIT: The Blog. Here we will steal 4 all types of questions from every corner of the blogosphere. 

Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and 6 intelligent questions. 

Cheers to all of us thieves!

 

 

 

 

 

Taken from Pinterest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Star or Angel?  Depends on the year.  Neither this year.

White Lights or Colored Lights?  We have colored on this tree but I also like white.

Blinking Lights or Still Lights?  Still. Blinking lights bug me after a while.

When do you open your gifts?  If it is just Joe and me, Christmas eve.

Do you buy gifts for your pet?  Yes!

Be honest: What's the worst gift you've ever gotten?  When I was in Jr. High, a neighbor gave me a fuzzy hat, 

not unlike the picture, only it was PINK.  I never wore it.

Have you ever traveled for the holiday?  Yes. Often.

Did you see Santa as a child?  Not in a store like kids do today.  No Santa photos of me.

Can you name all the reindeer?  I can, but have to sing the song to do it!

Have you ever gone caroling? Years ago.

Do you drive around and look at the Christmas lights?  We haven't done that in years.

Have you ever left Santa cookies?  We did when I was a child.

Have you ever had a white Christmas?  Many... but not in 31 years.

Have you ever made a gingerbread house from scratch? From a kit?  Neither.

Be honest: Do you think the season is too commercial?  Absolutely.

Imagine you were going to create the quintessential holiday soundtrack -- which song(s) absolutely must be included?  

Mary, Did You Know; Hark The Herald Angels Sing; Silent Night; Oh, Holy Night; Oh Come, All Ye Faithful...

 all of the old hymns.

What are your Christmas pet peeves?  I don't have any Christmas pet peeves.

Peace & hugs!  Jesus loves you!

The Saturday 9...

 Thanks to Crazy Sam for today's questions!  You can join in right HERE.

Purple Snowflakes

Welcome to Saturday: 9. What we've committed to our readers is that we will post 9 questions every Saturday. Sometimes the post will have a theme, and at other times the questions will be totally unrelated. Those weeks we do "random questions," so-to-speak. We encourage you to visit other participants' posts and leave a comment. Because we don't have any rules, it is your choice. We hate rules. We love to answer the questions, however, and here is today's questions!

This is the last Saturday 9 of 2020. Thanks for participating!


Saturday 9: Purple Snowflakes (2018)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) The lyrics ask where the snowflakes go. Sam can answer that: she shovels them! Do you shovel or use a snow blower? Or do you live in a warmer climate with no snow?  I like in central Florida and haven't shoveled snow in over 31 years. Hope I never do again!!

 

2) This week's artist, John Legend, recalls his Christmases growing up, singing carols with his family around the piano. Do you have a piano, or any other musical instruments, in your home?  No piano but I do have an old cornet packed away in my closet that I never play anymore.  Joe says he plays the radio...

3) This song is from John Legend's first Christmas album, A Legendary Christmas. It was a massive hit. Did you add any new music to your holiday collection this year?  Nope. I haven't purchased any music in 3-4 years. We have Amazon Prime music on the Echos and TV, and SiriusXM in the car.  We do pay a monthly fee for them so perhaps that counts as purchasing music...

4) John and his wife Chrissy Teigen go caroling with friends. What's the last song that you sang?  We have Christmas music on in the car and I sing along to all of them. I can't remember what the last one was.

5) Chrissy's hobby is cooking. While she likes experimenting with new recipes, her young children prefer their familiar favorites, like mashed potatoes. She tosses a bay leaf into the water as the potatoes boil to add enhance the flavor. Do you have a dish that's considered your specialty?  Probably my baked ziti that I make with homemade sauce. I always get compliments and most folks have 2nds and 3rds.

6) John prefers to unwind with a good book and loves comparing reading recommendations with friends. Did you discover any books in 2020 that you'd like to recommend to our Sat 9ers? Most of the time I can't even tell you the name of the book and/or author that I am currently reading, let alone something I read a few months ago.  I always love the Stephanie Plum books by Janet Evanovich and just read the 27th one a few weeks ago... I do remember those!

7) This song was written by Motown powerhouse Marvin Gaye. Who is your favorite Motown artist?  He is a good one, for sure, and I love The Temptations.

8) In 1972, Marvin wrote another Christmas song, "I Want to Come Home for Christmas." He dedicated it to the troops then serving in Vietnam. Do you know anyone who is protecting us this holiday season? Tell us about him or her. Whether they are in the armed forces, the police or fire department, or the ER, we want to say thank you!  A D'Orsaneo nephew is in the Marine Corps and two of the Kelly side nephews are doctors. God bless them all!!

9) Random question: You go into the kitchen to make your perfect sandwich. What fixings do you need?  Honey wheat bread, sliced deli ham, baby swiss cheese, tomato, onion, good strong mustard, and some lettuce if I have any.  Slice it in half and add some chips to the plate. Oh... then there is deli roast beef and brie, or deli turkey with cheddar and some mayo.  Bacon is good on them all. I'm not really picky about a good sandwich! Make any of them into a club!!

Peace & hugs!  Jesus loves you!!

Christmas Blessings!

 

Christmas Blessings from our house to yours!!

Whimsical Wednesday on Thursday (Christmas Eve!)...

 

There aren't any rules and there isn't a linky...

Check out the gown and choose some shoes for the model.

Have some fun!  It's just a whimsical thing!!

(Photos always from The Storybook of Dreams & Beauty)

I looked for a gown a little more 'matronly' (per a blogger's request) and found this beautiful gown. I am not sure how 'matronly' it is but I was blown away by how pretty it is.  She needs some shoes for the New Year's Eve Gala, so please help her out and tell us which pair you like best!  

#1 by Gucci

#2 by Gucci

#3 by Paul Andrew

My Thoughts:  I love the dress and would try to wear it if it came in my size (probably not!).  Of course, I couldn't walk in any of the shoes but wonder why two pairs have gold highlights when the dress has silver and turquoise (or maybe it is just my computer screen).  So I am choosing #3 to go with the gown.  I really think I like them best anyway.  What do you think?

Thanks for playing along!!

Merry Christmas to you and yours!!  

Rejoice, Rejoice, Emanuel!!

The Wednesday Hodgepodge x 400!

 Thank you, Joyce, for today's extra-special 400th Hodgepodge!!  Join in HERE!

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 400

1. I feel like episode 400 cannot go without comment. That's a whole lot of Hodgepodging folks. 2000 questions if my math is right. So, what's something you feel like you do 400 times a week?   Clean up after our three cats.  If it isn't a hairball found somewhere in the house, it's cat hair whooshing around and settling in a corner.  Oh, and then there is Vinny taking a mouthful of wet catfood and dropping it on the floor to eat instead of eating it from the dish... you get my drift here. Every day, at least 400 times a day! LOL, I wouldn't trade them for anything, though.

2. Tell us where you were and something about what your life looked like in the year 2000?  Well, I well remember December 1999 as we all held our breath, waiting for the world to end when the ball dropped and the clock ticked to January 1, 2000.  That nasty Y2K bug didn't bite us after all.  I was still working.  The grandkids were still young enough to enjoy our pool and going to Disney.  It was a different time and perhaps a lighter time than where we are today. Good memories.  All the D'Orsaneos got together to usher in the year 2000 and we had our picture taken (I was taking a picture, as was sister-in-law Debbie).  Seven of these people are no longer with us now (4 by death and 3 by divorce)...  Things have changed.  Don't they always...

3. Do you like cinnamon? YES!  What's something you make and enjoy that calls for cinnamon?  Pumpkin bread.  Of the cinnamon 'foods' listed which is your favorite-red hot cinnamon candies, cinnamon toast, cinnamon rolls, cinnamon toast crunch cereal, apple cinnamon oatmeal, churros, an Indian curry?  I eat cinnamon toast most often and keep a shaker of cinnamon & sugar on the table.  The only one of those foods I haven't had is Indian curry but I am sure I would like it!!

4. Does Christmas 2020 (or Hanukkah) look much like it has in years past, or is this year vastly different for you and your family? How so? How are you feeling about it all?  This year isn't a lot different from years past because we don't usually have family joining us for Christmas. Those days are way past.  The only difference this year will be fewer folks at the table.  Helen & Cheryl will be here, but no one else will join us this year.

5. What's one thing you need or want to do before this year ends?  There is nothing I need or want before we usher in the new year but we are excited to have our good friends (my BFF) Elaine & Jim joining us on December 30th and staying next door through March!! That is something we are looking forward to!!

6. Insert your own random thought here.  Just that there are so many blessings to count, even in this strange and sometimes awful year we have journeyed through.  I thank God every day for so many blessings in my life, and count each of you among them!  

Peace & hugs!!  Jesus loves you and 

came to save us! Believe it!

The Tuesday 4...

 

Thanks to Annie for today's four questions! You can join in HERE.

Tuesday 4

A Merry Little Christmas

 Thank you for joining in for Tuesday 4, begun by Toni Taddeo and kept in her memory.

Christmas is fast approaching for millions of people...

1. Do you have a favorite Christmas carol and if so is there a particular version you especially like?  It seems we have covered these questions at least four times over the last couple of weeks, but my favorite Christmas carol is 'Mary, Did You Know'.

2.Do you have a special dinner for the holidays?  Yes. What foods are included?  We always have ham and the sides can be different each year.  I haven't decided yet, but I have the ham.

3.Holiday movies ... which do you like to watch?  Most of them! I am not a Hallmark movie fan, though.

4. What traditions do you continue to keep year after year for the holidays?  A tree in the corner and a wreath on the door.

I wish you and yours a very happy holiday season.  And I wish you and yours the same!!

Peace & hugs!!  Jesus loves you!

Monday's Weekend Recap...

 

We had a fun weekend!!  There were six couples from our community enjoying our Thursday night dinner out.  More of our winter folks have arrived but we are still missing our Canadian friends.  Last year there were usually twice that many going out. It is always fun.

On Friday, Joe and I got our hair cut and wished our barber and her family a happy Christmas.  They are going north to her parents' home.  

Saturday was our dinner with Helen and Cheryl.  I put a pot roast in the crockpot and roasted potatoes and veggies in the oven.  For dessert, I made a butter pecan cake and served it with butter pecan ice cream.  There was enough to serve to our company on Sunday, too.  This cake, by the way, is delicious and worthy of company.  Good enough to pay for, says Joe!!  Here is a link to the recipe!  The only difference was that I made it in a sheet cake 9x13 pan and I used a second can of frosting, heated in the microwave for 30 seconds, and poured it over the warm cake, like a glaze. It is delicious!  After we had dinner we did watch Christmas Chronicles 2.  A fun movie!

We skipped church yesterday because we had visitors coming Sunday morning!!  Tristan asked if they could come for a visit.  Did he really think Grandma would say NO?  It was a wonderful surprise and the greatest gift!! Both Lauren and Tristan came and so did their mom (former DIL), Kathy.  We took them all out for lunch at Thai Oshi and we had the cake and ice cream described above, for dessert. We got some pictures over at Lakeside Village, after lunch!

It was a good weekend!! Now, on to the last few days before Christmas! I have some baking to do today and tomorrow and some gifts to wrap and deliver here in our community. I think I actually have some of that Christmas spirit bubbling out now!!

Oh... PS:  If you have HBO/HBOMAX and get a chance to see a movie called "Last Christmas" do watch it.  I think it just made it to my top five favorite Christmas movies.  Loved it.  Check YouTube. It might also be there.

Peace & hugs!  Jesus Loves You!!

 

Sunday Stealing...

 

Thanks to our hostess, Bev, for this week's questions!  You can join in HERE!

For those who celebrate Christmas #1

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taken from Pinterest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What’s your favorite thing about the holidays?  Usually, it is celebrating with family & friends. This year... meh.

Do you send out Christmas cards and if so how many do you send?  Yes, and around 100. 

Be honest: holiday newsletters. Love ‘em or hate ‘em?  Love them!

Be honest: photo cards. Love ‘em or hate ‘em?  Love them!

How soon do you start shopping?  I don't shop that much anymore but after Thanksgiving.

Real or fake tree?  Fake.

When do you put up your tree?  The weekend after Thanksgiving.

When do you take down your tree?  January 2nd (sometimes before).

Describe your typical tree (size, decorations, type)  We have downsized considerably. Six feet this year.

What do you top your tree with?  An ornament this year. Sometimes a star.  Sometimes an Angel.

Do you put Christmas lights outside your house?  Not any more.  

Is there a wreath hanging on your door?  Yes.

Do you hang up stockings?  Yes.

Your favorite Christmas Movie(s).  I have answered this so many times!! I like so many Christmas movies.

Be honest: A Christmas movie you hate.  Joe hates Elf for some reason. I don't mind it but we don't watch it.

Favorite Christmas Song(s).  "Mary, Did You Know" always makes me tear up. Love it.

Be honest: If I hear this/these Christmas songs again I will throw up.  Elvis's version of Blue Christmas... 

I can't stand the background singers... da doo de doo da.

Give or Receive? Give.

Eggnog or Mulled Cider?  Cider.

Ham or Turkey?  Ham for Christmas (turkey for Thanksgiving).

Peace & hugs!  Jesus loves you, this I know!!

Saturday 9...

 Thanks to Crazy Sam for today's questions!  You can join in right HERE!

Happy Holidays!

Welcome to Saturday: 9. What we've committed to our readers is that we will post 9 questions every Saturday. Sometimes the post will have a theme, and at other times the questions will be totally unrelated. Those weeks we do "random questions," so-to-speak. We encourage you to visit other participants' posts and leave a comment. Because we don't have any rules, it is your choice. We hate rules. We love memes, however, and here is today's meme!

Saturday 9: Happy Holidays! (from the archives)


1. As you can see, Sam loved giving her annual wish list to Santa. Yet some children are reluctant to climb into Jolly Old St. Nick's lap. Did you enjoy the tradition or were you shy? Or did you bypass it all together -- either because you wrote him a letter or because your family didn't celebrate Christmas?  I don't remember going to a store to sit on Santa's lap but my grandpa played Santa a few times at my December birthday parties. I know there is a picture somewhere but am not going in search right now.

2. Are you currently on the Naughty or Nice list? How did you get there?  I don't think I have ever been on the naughty list but how about this...

3. Did you ship any gifts to friends and family this year? If so, which one traveled the farthest? We sent two to Virginia and one to Georgia.  Virginia was farther.

4. Did you buy yourself a gift this year?  Nope.

5. What's your favorite holiday-themed movie? Have you seen it yet this year?  I have so many favorites and we have seen most of them by now. Several Scrooge movies, It's A Wonderful Life, The Holiday, The Last Holiday, Christmas Vacation, While You Were Sleeping, Sleepless in Seattle, Christmas Chronicles 1 & 2...

6. Thinking of movies, Christmas is lucrative for Hollywood. Have you ever gone to a movie theater on Christmas Day?  For quite a few years we did go to the movies on Christmas evening. Our movie theater hasn't opened yet here in our end of town.

7. Have you ever suffered an embarrassing moment at the company Christmas party?  Nope.  Our Christmas parties were all family-friendly with kids there and Secret Santa reveals.  I miss getting together with my old co-workers. Our parties were always sweet.

8. What's your favorite beverage in cold weather?  I drink spring water most often but a good cup of coffee is always nice in the morning, no matter the weather.

9. Share a memory from last Christmas.  In the two weeks leading up to Christmas last year, we had some great visits with family! Our niece, Sara, and her mother-in-law, Lisa were here over-night.  Sara had been at a conference south of us (Sanibel, I think) where she was a presenter and Lisa came with her. We had such a great time with them here. 

We also had visits from three great-nieces, a great-nephew in-law, and a great-great-niece! A fun day over at Disney Springs and lunch at The House of Blues...

Then we had a visit from our nephew, and his family... they were at our house for a day and then sent us this picture from their time at Disney...

 For Christmas Day we had my friend Shirley (who had just lost her hubby) and her son, David, as well as Helen & Cheryl.  We are always happy to share the holidays with dear friends when family can't be here.

Sad that we haven't had any visits like those this year Due to COVID, but the memories are warm in our hearts!!  We will have Helen and Cheryl with us this year AND we just found out today that we are getting a visit from Grandson Tristan (and maybe Lauren) on Sunday (tomorrow)!!  Can't wait!!

Peace & hugs!!  Jesus loves you!!