I Hope It's Not Lost

Last night when we got home from South Carolina, I checked all my e-mails. Of course, I scan through them first and pick which ones to open first. There was one from my friend Tina so I opened it to read what she had been up to lately. Many times her e-mails are about her naughty little dog, Liesel, that I found for her here in New York. I kinda feel guilty about being the one that found it for her. But, then dogs are like kids. You don't know what you're getting until you get them and then it's too late. But you love them just the same. I was lucky, because all my kids were and are perfect!!! However, I haven't had as good of luck with dogs. Today, Bob had to use the snow-blower in the drive-way and when he put it back in the garage, he hit something on the side of the garage door and now the garage door won't shut. Checotah, had a great time today hauling stuff from the garage out into the yard. Spaghetti squash, gourds that should have been taken to the compost pile, but resided in a box in the garage, and rags. She was a very busy girl today. Then when Bob went outside and saw the mess Checotah had strung in the yard, she got in trouble and went and hid in the barn. She is such a sweet dog, but she can be so naughty. She also tore up her brand new bed Bob bought for her just before we left on our trip. I guess she was bored.

Anyway, Tina asked me if I received a package from Diane. So I was excited about the package and asked Bob to go out and get the mail. When he brought it in, there was no package from Diane. So I asked him to go back out and check on all the porches. He returned empty handed. I e-mailed Tina to let her know that it hadn't arrived yet, and her response to my e-mail was that Diane sent it before Christmas and it was a handmade gift. Diane does the most beautiful knitting and weaving. I'm not sure what she had made and sent to me, but I know I would have loved it! I hope the package can be traced and located. That would be terrible if it was lost. I don't remember ever having anything lost in the mail. Have you?

We're Home

Well we made it home safe. It was a long, cold week in Myrtle Beach. Bob and I were hoping for some warm weather so we could have a change for a short time, but the temperature dropped while we were there and it actually snowed. There was no accumulation, but it snowed. We did walk on the beach after lunch one day. We were all bundled up in our coats and other winter paraphernalia. It was a busy week with lots of meetings. We stayed in the Hilton right on the beach. I was going to post an update everyday while I was there, but it would have cost $10 a day for internet access and we found out from several people that paid for it, that they weren't able to get on so we opted not to even try.

We had fun going out to eat with friends. The first night we went to a Japanese restaurant, and I do not like Japanese food! But it was fun watching them prepare the food right in front of us. I especially liked watching them set the food on fire! I did enjoy the Mexican and Thai food restaurants. It was a good week, but I'm sure glad to be home. Lots to get caught up on.

While we were eating at the Thai restaurant, sitting at the table next to ours was a couple that were just finishing there meal. All of a sudden Bob jumped up from his chair and ran over and hugged the guy and the lady. I had no idea what he was doing. This behavior is out of character for Bob. Come to find out, they were good friends from California (I had never met them, but had heard stories about them). We knew they were living in the D.C. area and Bob even talked to them at Christmas time, but we had no idea they would be attending these meetings. The next day we went to lunch together and had a wonderful time visiting. We're planning a trip to the D.C. area soon and they are coming up to our home in March or April.

Well I need to open the pile of mail that is waiting for my attention on the dining room table. I have a busy weekend with two families coming over for lunch on Sabbath and I also have to do a Sabbath school workshop and clerk's workshop on Sabbath afternoon at the Hispanic church. That's always interesting since I can't speak Spanish. But, they always smile and agree with everything I'm telling them. It's really kinda fun. Bob will have to stay at home with our guests and continue with the entertaining.

Picture from our hotel room balcony.

Another picture from the balcony.

Bob relaxing and taking a look at the program book.

The music was interesting.

Here we are! The sun is shining, but it is cold!

Our friends from D.C. - Jim and Janene

I've had enough . . .

of the cold weather that is. I've been cold all day today. Even at church I kept my neck warmer, coat, mittens, and snow boots on. I was freezing and I'm still cold. The good news! In fifteen minutes Bob and I are leaving for Myrtle Beach in South Carolina. We have a cat, dog, and chicken sitter to take care of the kids so we're almost ready to leave. It will be a 13 1/2 hour drive so we should arrive tomorrow morning. Then we will be attending meetings all week. But, I think it will be warmer than it is here. I sure hope so.

It's Officially Over

I really enjoyed the way Bob decorated our Christmas tree this year and wasn't ready for it to be taken down as early as we usually do. But, today was the day. We both decided that it had to come down and the decorations put away until next year.

Looking pretty bare -

Bob took the tree out the front doors and now it is resting in the burn pile. It's too windy to burn today. The boxes are all stored and life is back to normal. I think.

And it happened at the church

Last night Bob went to prayer meeting at the Roosevelt Church. When he left to go out to the truck he noticed that the passenger side door was wide open. When he looked inside the truck the glove box was open and the stuff had been gone through and the lid was up on the console where Bob keeps his CD's. Whoever it was must not have needed napkins, because that's what was in the glove box and they must not have liked the music Bob listens to, because they didn't take any. They must have been very disappointed. If I'd been there I would have taken pictures.

Snowman Update

The birthday party at work today was a success. Here are a couple of pictures I took at work.

This is the centerpiece - a melting snowman.

Snowmen Cupcakes

Our office celebrates birthdays each month and I was assigned along with two other employees to host the January birthday party. My friend, Cil and I are planning it together and decided to do a winter theme with snowflakes and snowmen. The menu we decided on is homemade chili, mini cornbread muffins, salad, and cupcakes. Cil and I both are making a pot of chili. Cil is making miniature cornbread muffins, and I'm making the cupcakes. I started making the snowmen on Sunday and it took me all day because they had to be made in stages.

This is how it started. Once these dried I add the second and then third section for the snowman.

Then I had to make black icing for the hats. I used chocolate and black food coloring to get the instant black color.

Then I used red and yellow food coloring to make the orange icing for the nose.

Here they are. I let them dry overnight.

I made chocolate cupcakes and iced them with vanilla icing. Then I placed the dried snowman on the cupcake and sprinkled coconut around the edges. (I didn't put coconut on all of them just in case someone doesn't like coconut.)

Here they are all packed and ready to go to work with me tomorrow.

Here is what Cil and I decided to use for the table center-piece. A melted snowman. We'll hot glue coal for the eyes and put a carrot on for the nose and then put a scarf around the neck. Cil make some really cute snowflakes that we'll scatter on the table.

This was a really fun party to plan. I'll try to take pictures tomorrow at the party. Oh, we're using blue table clothes.