Angelrose's Journey

[Angelrose]

I had taken my car in because of a leak a couple of weeks ago. It seemed OK but Friday on my way to IHOP and shopping, my car had some smoke coming out from under the hood. I was going to take my car in again anyway because I was still seeing something leaking.

I turned around and went straight to the garage and told him I smelled something burning under the hood. He looked and when he made the engine run this stuff started spraying out. It was the coolant this time.

He had to get a part from the manufacturer and I wouldn't be able to get the car back for several hours. They did drive me home, thank goodness. I called at 4 and he told me that the "new and improved" plastic part the manufacturer had sent, cracked and spewed coolant all over everything. He was NOT happy about that. So I wouldn't have my car back until Monday.

Since I was babysitting over the weekend, I had to get Chuck to come and pick me up Saturday morning.

I had a wonderful time babysitting. The kids were pretty good considering everything. We watched tv and dvd's most of the day. I did make them both take a nap for a couple of hours and that helped me.

We read some books and more tv and dvd's. Since it was a rainy day, there was no playing outside option. I let them stay up a bit later than usual since it was the weekend and I thought they might sleep later in the morning. Well, that didn't workout. Jesse was up at 6:30 on Sunday.

Zoey woke up a bit later. We had our breakfast and then back to the tv. I was surprised that they didn't want to go down in the basement to play. I am so glad I had my Kindle. I don't think I could stand another showing of Sophia the First. That is Zoey's favorite show.

We had our lunch and then Jesse wanted to play Chutes and Ladders down in the basement. We started to play and then Chuck and Karen came home.

They enjoyed their company's Christmas party. So I was happy about that. Chuck brought my bags down from upstairs and drove me home. I was glad to sleep in my own bed.

Both grandkids were really good for me. That made things easier. I hate to put them in time out.

Today I got my car back and boy it sounds so much better now. I did my grocery shopping and came home. I made some cinnamon almonds and relaxed.

I had a real estate man come to give me an estimate on how much my home and 10 acres could sell for. Sadly, not as much as I had hoped. Thinking about packing up everything I own and trying to sell our rock collection is a very depressing thought.

But I don't have to think about that now. When I have to get serious about moving, I will definitely get more estimates from different agencies. But I have a feeling that is about all I can expect. My home was built in the early 70's. No improvements since then. No garage and no dishwasher and an all electric home. But my dear Ron built it from the ground up. He laid the block, did all the plumbing and all the electrical. The only thing he didn't do was dig the foundation and pour the cement. We did smooth it all out for the foundation. He laid all the block except for one that I laid all by myself. LOL He made sure to put in a termite shield and insulated the house within an inch of it's life. He put in double glazed windows and steel doors. He did the sheetrock, wood trim, painting, the roof, rain gutters and the vinyl siding. It's a beautiful home and I would really hate to leave it. It's called southern colonial. It has 4 white columns in the front and two lions on the porch to guard the place. Leo and Ludlow are their names and they have done a wonderful job of protecting our home.

Well, that is my novel for the day.

Hope everyone is having a great week.

 

[Angelrose]

Hello my friends. I have been having fun baking and making cinnamon almonds. Today I tried something I saw on Rachael Ray. It's called 5 minute fudge.

Here is what it looks like when done.

All it is, is one 12 oz bag of semi sweet chocolate chips, 1/2 cup of butterscotch chips, a teaspoon of vanilla and one can of sweetened condensed milk.

You just melt it on your stove. When it is all melted, you add a half cup of raisins and I think one cup of walnuts. Stir it all together.

Butter a cake pan, then put in parchment paper and butter that. Put some plastic wrap around the can of condensed milk and put that in the center of the cake pan. Spoon the melted goodness all around the center can. Then you cut up some green cherries in 3 or 4 slices and arrange then like holly leaves and cut a red cherry in half to be the berries. Add a couple of walnuts. Then put it in the fridge for a couple of hours. Lift it out with the parchment paper and you have fudge.

It's so easy even I could do it. I think I'm going to try it with white chocolate chips and crushed candy canes and peppermint extract. I'll let you know how it comes out.

 

[minniecarousel]

YUM - that looks good! And your decorations are amazing! I'm no where near getting the ornaments onto our trees. All those pictures are cute - and I second it that you look terrific! Keep up the good work! Just try to maintain 'til the first, then back at it (at least that's my way!)

I had a terrific 4 days in Disneyland with my sisters. They both used canes most of the time. We did pretty much all we wanted to do. They have the Candlelight Processional at Disneyland and I got tix through DVC. It took some doing to get to the right line, but it was worth it. They escorted us to first row, center for the show! The narrator was Kurt Russell. The weather was perfect. (they've had a few shows rained out)

The week we were there, my younger son and daughter-in-law drove to New York. Driving 10-12 hours a day, they made it in 5 days. whew! I'm just so relieved that they made it. They found a condo to rent, but can't get their furniture for another 4 days.

I've spent the day making my son's favorite Chritmas cookies. I'll mail those and a few gifts in the morning. It'll be strange not having him here for Christmas. Funny - of all the stuff I've worried about over the years, one of my boys moving wasn't even on my radar!

On another note, we'll be picking up our older son and daughter-in-law at the SF Airport at 11PM, getting back from a week in WDW!

 

[Angelrose]

Thank you minniecarousel. I'm so glad you had a wonderful time in DL.

I love the Candlelight Processional. It's one of my favorite things at Christmas time. I have two different cd's of it. I play it all the time to get that Disney fix.

Have fun with your son and daughter in law.

 

[4nana]

Angelrose, love all the family c'mas photos.. all the shades of purple really look nice . Jesse & Zoey are just adorable, and my, you look so good girl, congrats on your continued weight loss !!! Yum, that fudge is looking mighty temping too . Sure glad they repaired your car, know that's worrisome not to have dependable wheels at hand, and hope it's good to go for awhile now.

I hope you can get more advise on selling your place, the market is down here, so I feel your pain. DH built our 2 story home 34 yrs ago, on 4 acres, we raised our 4 kids here and it's all the grands have ever known. So altho a lot of happy memories here, it's to much for 2 old people to care for and we are preparing oursevles mentally the time is nearing we must consider downsizing for our own well being. I dread the thought.

Like everyone's... it's been a very busy month! We have 5 family BD's in Dec, hense 5 outings, incl mine, and makes it hard to get in C'mas mood till they are done. DH took me to yummy lunch for my BD, then our kids and families that live locally took us to dinner at Olive Garden, where we all had a wonderful time . I enjoyed calls from my out of states kids/grands also. For my BD the kids went together and got us a 6 mos membership to the Aqua Therapy pool we love so much! I indeed count my blessings for my loving family.

This week-end I also helped our 3 DGS's give their Mom & Dad a small dinner party for their annv. Things went well and they were so surprised ! Thankfully, I started c'mas shopping early and am finished - incl all the sweet grands, DH, 3 DD's,1DS, 4 IL's, my Mom, c'mas cards sent, long distance pkgs mailed, but still have more decorating and haven't done my baking yet. I def. cannot keep up w/you in the c'mas decorating dept girlie!?!

snapppyd, love your orginial C'mas card photo, glad you had fun at the musical!

Minnie, your Disneyand trip w/sisters sound fun and I know you made lots of special memories.
Glad your DS & DIL are settled in New York.

Everyone take care, stay well, and hope your plans are going great for happy holidays with your loved ones.

 

[Angelrose]

Thank you 4nana for the compliment.

I took my car in yet again because I was still seeing oil stains on the blacktop. He looked at it and there are no leaks. What it was, was little pockets of oil from when it did leak all over on the undercarriage and everywhere else. So he cleaned that all up and hopefully there won't be another problem.

I made a quick stop at the grocery store and then came home. I had a call to make.

You see, being the computer wizard that I am, I canceled my WW monthly pass subscription instead of the active link subscription. I just noticed it this weekend. So all this month I have been going to meetings without paying! EEEEEKK! The girl was very helpful and got me back with the monthly pass at my old rate. She must have sensed that I was in a panic. Who meee??? I was practically crying to her. I get very upset with little problems like this. Plus, the rates have gone up and I can't really afford to pay anything more than the old rate. So I was very happy and she must have had a story to tell her friends about the crazy old lady that called her today. LOL

When I stopped at the grocery store, this little fellow jumped into my cart. I couldn't stop him, he refused to leave, so I had to take him home.

As you know you must name your elf. His name is Dweezel Ivey. Yes, I know, I am ready to be committed.

 

[SoCaOC-Mom]

Prayers sent.

 

[Angelrose]

Thank you SoCaOC-Mom. I appreciate it and can really use it this time of year.

 

[snapppyd]

Love Dweezel Ivey! Enjoy!!

 

[Angelrose]

I made a different fudge for Chuck yesterday. I just used Reeces peanut butter chips instead of the semi sweet chips.

Here it is.

Chuck loved it. He even ate a piece before he left to go out to dinner.

I had a great time with Jesse and Zoey. I have to keep an eagle eye on Zoey though. She loves to get her brother in trouble. I didn't let her get away with anything though. I let them watch tv while I read my Kindle, but kept glancing over. LOL They are so much fun.

Chuck and Karen had dinner out and then went to see Skyfall. They loved it.

I got home around 10:40. It had just started to sprinkle when I got home.

We had quite a rain and wind storm in the middle of the night and lost power for a couple of hours. Just a few branches down but nothing major.

I'm getting my hair done tomorrow. I always feel better when my hair is cut and colored and styled. I hope it will last until Christmas day.

 

[snapppyd]

Merry Christmas everyone!

 

[Angelrose]

MERRY CHRISTMAS to all my dear friends.

That is a beautiful picture snappyd. Thank you.

I'm going over early tomorrow morning to watch Jesse and Zoey open their presents from Santa. I can't wait. I will be there all day until after dinner. What could be better?

 

[minniecarousel]

Ah, yes, Merry Christmas Friends!

I'll bet you're looking forward to Christmas with the Grands, Angelrose! We had dinner tonight with our older son and daughter-in-law. We exchanged gifts then too. They gave me the Jim Shore 7 Dwarfs & the Kinkade Disney Dreams calendar. They really "get" me!

Gotta get some sleep - the whole family comes here on Christmas Day.

 

[Angelrose]

I love Jim Shore. I have many of his Disney figures. I love the Kinkade Disney calender. Hope you had a great Christmas minniecarousel.

I had so much fun on Christmas. I got there right about 7:15. Both kids were so excited. They opened their gifts and Zoey had to give me each of her presents. It was mostly clothes because they had gotten so many toys for their birthdays. I will have to post some of her clothes that I was trying on. LOL At one point she handed me all of her toys. I asked her why I was holding all her toys and she said, "because you want to". Perfectly logical.

Jesse got a Leap Pad and he was totally absorbed in all the games on it. He loved the gifts I gave him and so did Zoey. That made me feel good. Jesse and Zoey each gave me a present. Zoey gave me a pair of fuzzy socks with Rudolph on them, plus a gift card to the movies. Jesse gave me a pair of fuzzy socks with a snowman on them and a gift card to IHOP. I was very surprised since they had given me a Kindle. But I love the socks and the gift cards.

I took the kids downstairs to play for a while to give Chuck and Karen some peace. We ate these bacon and cheese scones for brunch that I got at Smithville. They were so good. Chuck didn't care for his, so I ate half of his too. There was one left over and I ate most of that for lunch. I can't believe I ate all that. Karen and I went downstairs to watch Pitch Perfect. It was very funny and had a lot of good music in it.

We had chicken and sausage gumbo for dinner. They make the best gumbo! For dessert I bought a chocolate peppermint mousse cake. OMG that was to die for. I think I could have licked the plate.

I played with the kids until it was their bedtime. Then we watched Die Hard 2. I had never seen it before and I liked it. It was a bit on the violent side, but it certainly was action packed.

I got home around 9:30 and was really tired. I watched a bit of tv and then went to bed.

Now I want to tell you something that happened the day after Christmas. I was watching a Christmas movie and fell asleep. Nothing strange about that. But I heard a loud noise from upstairs over the tv and thought to myself, "what is Ron doing up there now?" I tried to wake up to go see but just couldn't. When I did finally wake up, I just knew it was Ron wishing me a Merry Christmas. I did hear a noise, but nothing was out of place or fell. So it was just his way of getting my attention. That just put the icing on a very merry Christmas.

 

[Angelrose]

My goofy son with the cake.

Karen asked him if he was cutting the cake right.

Never complain to a man holding a knife. LOL

One of Zoey's new nightgowns.

It almost fits!

My fuzzy socks.

 

[minniecarousel]

Oh, Mary, I'm so glad you take comfort in your connections with Ron.

Those kids are so darling. I remember that some of the days with mine were looong, but the years flew by!

We had the usual chaotic fun at our house on Christmas Day. My niece and her husband have a little boy who is 15 months. It's fun to a have little one around for Christmas. (the little guy's grandpa is dad to 15 year old triplets! My brother's oldest is 38; he has the triplets and a now 21 year old with his second wife.)

No plans for NYE yet here. We'll probably see a movie in the afternoon, then have fresh dungeness crab for dinner......unless a friend comes up with a better offer!

 

[snapppyd]

We had a very quiet Christmas this year, just the two of us. We drove into the city for about an hour to look at the tree in Rock Center - but it doesn't show up that good in the daylight. The skating rink was nice though!

Going to our favorite local Italian restaurant for dinner on New Year's Eve, then going home to light the fire and watch tv.

I wish you all a happy, healthy and safe New Year!!!

 

[4nana]

So glad to hear everyone had a lovely Christmas making special memories!

Awww AR, so wonderful to hear you had a nice C'mas with your loving family, and that your beloved Ron sent you a message he is never far from your heart . Also thx bunches for sharing your comical photos . Looks like a good time was had by all.

We had a wonderful C'mas also, with both local DD's hosting family dinners and parties. Wonderful food, loving company, and lots of nice gifts was had by all, as we count as blessings . Also were fortunate to attend several of the grands holiday activites.


Thought I'd share a few holiday pix ~

Nana & Pop Pop's 13 sweet grands
'snow angel' thumb prints they had made for us~

Our angel tree top representing our son,
a US Army Major, and all dedicated soldiers ~

Our little c'mas tree in sun room that DH built
reflecting in the windows brings much solace in the evening ~

A few of my favorite Disney ornaments from our family grand gathering WDW trip ~

Some of our yummy desserts ~

~

lil DGD did these

C'mas caroling & horse drawn wagon ride w/sweet grands ~

Grands get a kick out of Santa visiting our neighborhood on fire truck annually ~

Our Winter Wonderland blessing ~

~

Nana & Pop Pop wish you a Happy & Healthy New Year full blessings!

 

[DisneyDanielle85]

sending prayers your way!!!

 

[Angelrose]

minniecarousel, thank you and it is fun to have the chaos of little ones on Christmas morning.

snappyd, that sounds very romantic. Have a very HAPPY NEW YEAR TOO.

4nana, what beautiful pictures. Thank you for sharing them. Some of those pictures ought to be on a Christmas card.

DisneyDanielle85 thank you for your prayers. They are most appreciated.

Chuck asked me, if I wasn't too busy with all my fantastic plans for New Year's eve, to come over and spend it with the family and a couple of friends. He was being his usual goofy self. I accepted. It will be a fun evening, I'm sure. I'm also sure that we won't make it until midnight. I have a feeling everyone will be going home around 10. heh heh heh We are all such party animals.