Happy New Year!

My Wish for You in 2010
May peace break into your home and may thieves come to steal your debts.
May the pockets of your jeans become a magnet for $100 bills.
May love stick to your face like Vaseline and may laughter assault your lips!
May happiness slap you across the face and may your tears be that of joy
May the problems you had, forget your home address!
In simple words .............
May 2010 be the best year of your life!!!

My Favorite Brother-in-Law!

David Alan Von Duyke was my brother-in-law for over 44 years. In that time I don’t ever recall him calling me by another name than "Aunt Judy". He would greet me by saying "Hey Aunt Judy, how is my favorite sister-in-law"? He would also calls on the phone and identifies himself as "This is your favorite brother-in-law" ( I pretended I didn’t know that’s how he greeted all of his sister-in-laws the same way!)
I loved him because he was a rascal and sometimes irreverent. I enjoyed the verbal sparring we used to do. He loved to eat my cooking, so that put an extra star on his chart with me.
He was funny and bright with a teasing sense of humor. He would feign having his feelings hurt if his intentions were ever questioned. He would sometimes arrive in our driveway unexpectedly during the night of Christmas Eve. He’d sleep in his car in the driveway no matter if the weather was frigid and the temperature below zero, so that he could be there to watch watch Nathan and Sarah get up in the morning and open the presents that Santa had brought. He always told them that he had passed Santa on the way from Indianapolis to our house, and almost had a wreck-avoiding running into Santa’s sleigh.
And of course there were things I would never discuss with him.
Things like:
Politics, Religion, dog training, child rearing, horse training, cooking, fly fishing, boat rowing, auto mechanics, the weather, farming, gardening, fire lighting, Doctors, egg prices or the State of the Union.

There were two distinct opinions in this world. Uncle David’s…. And the wrong opinions.
He was charming to have at a party; he was congenial, comical, lovable and good looking.
I remember the day he arrived at our home in Valley City with the most exciting news he had ever told us.
"Hey Aunt Judy, I met a girl today"! "She locked her keys in her car at the nursing home where I work, and I gave her a ride home to Medina. I think I’m going to marry her"!
And he did!
God speed on your journey. We will see you later!

The day before the Birthday

Today is December 24th, 2009. I am in the process of baking a "Red Velvet" Cake. I will frost it with homemade Cream Cheese/Butter Frosting.

It should be cool in about an hour.

I will frost it on the "Good" glass cake stand and cover it with the glass lid.

It will be ready for dessert after tomorrow's Christmas Dinner.

It is a Birthday Cake. I make a Birthday Cake every year for dessert.

It is Jesus' Birthday.

There can never be too many sprinkles!

"So....what color should we use now"?

"All of them"!

The cutest thing was when I turned around and saw Daniel putting that handful of sprinkles into his mouth!

"Nana, don't you want to know if they taste good"?

"Yes I do Daniel"!

"Yum"!

Two days and counting!

Wow! I can't believe it is almost here.

Today will be spent wrapping, and delivering. I have a photo shoot at 9:00 for a TV Open House in January. The home owner almost had a heart attack when she learned the shoot was two days before Christmas! Then breakfast with two clients, delivering some gifts to clients who live out of the county and then back home to clean up this mess.

I got up at 4:30 this morning, but so far, the coffee pot is the only thing that I have laid my hands on and also took Toby for his morning walk. He looks so beautiful with his newly bathed and groomed coat. He thought the camera at this time of the morning was an intrusion on his beauty rest! Can't let Santa see a scruffy dog!

Tim is in Massachusetts, without his cell phone and that is a really big void in his trip. Hard to get directions etc., but hopefully he will be home tomorrow.

I have all the ingredients for tomorrow evening's meal and I am excited to have my family here to open their gifts. Somehow, Christmas would find me a little more prepared this year if it was at least one more week away. Well, it is in two days, so I best get hoppin'.

Merry "two days before" to you!

Friends and Family

Friday morning I met with six realtor friends for breakfast
at Bob Evans Restaurant. We sat down at 9:30 a.ml and
did not get up to leave until 11:30! Seven of us are left from
the original group that all started our careers at Realty One in Brunswick. Two of them are retired, one owns her own Brokerage now, one started a few years after the rest of us.

Yet we still remain friends. We all had stories to tell about our "present" and our past. Funny transactions, good sales stories, horror stories as well.

Coincidentally, it was my birthday and so unexpectedly all the wait staff came to sign Happy Birthday and present me with a huge cake with my name on it. One of the girls brought the
cake complete with sprinkles of candy canes and gingerbread men.

We all promised to get together next month. We 'll see if that happens. The market is rough right now and sales are really down. In fact they are almost non existent. Our sales board at the office is touting "one" sale for the month of Dec.

Later in the day, my kids and their spouses took Tim and I out to dinner for my birthday. The restaurant was called "Steak on a Stone". Located on Lorain Road in North Olmsted it was a "dining" experience.

The entrees are brought to each diner on a platter that holds a square heated stone. (750 degrees of heat) The steak is placed on the stone in the kitchen, brought to the diner at the table, the meat is flipped over on it's other side, and the waitress proceeds to instruct you on how to eat it. Very, very interesting! It was a great experience, and the steak was so good! There are other entree items that come on the stone also, shrimp, scallops, lamb, pork chops etc. Very unique dining experience! The restaurant is primarily Greek with an extensive menu that does not include "stone" cooking.

So I guess you could say I had to cook my own birthday dinner!

The Twelve Days of Christmas

My true love gave to me..a pre-school Christmas Program. Daniel (on the left) was chosen to sing "A Partridge in a Pear Tree" and he was fabulous!

Some of the children were a little "shy" about singing their parts, but not Daniel.

Then the biggest smile of the night came after the song was completed and Daniel (above right photo) leaned out of line and said "we are supposed to bow", and he did!

With a little help from my friends!

Dear Santa:

I need to fill 120 stockings for the needy kids in Northern Medina County for the Salvation Army.

Can you send me some Angels to buy the stockings, buy the toys, bring the candy, coloring books and crayons.? Can you send me some Angels to ask for donations, and ask some more, and ask some more? Can you send me some Angels to do the work of assembling the stockings and setting up and cleaning up?

"Yes I can" said Santa!

And Santa did!

Thank you Tina and Tim, Gerdi, Mollie, Mark, Christie, Pat, Jo Ann, Barb, Connie, Frieda, Judi, Noreen, Pam, Lori, Shirley, Linda, Mary Ann, Women's Council, Howard Hanna Brunswick and Medina, and to all of those unsung hero angels who chose not to be recognized.

The need was great and you all stepped up to the plate!

God Bless and Merry Christmas!

Out of the mouths of babes!

Dear God:

For Christmas this year, please send clothes for all those naked ladies on Dad's computer!

Santa visits #1, 2 and 3

This is a tale of three Santa visits. Two more than the norm perhaps but a true tale none the less.

#1 Daniel and I went to the Candlelight Walk in Medina and stood in line to visit Santa. It was 3:30 in the afternoon and the daylight was just starting to fade. There were probably 10 families ahead of us waiting their turn to step into the little house from the North Pole where Santa was receiving visitors. The weather was dry but chilly. As Daniel sto0d holding my hand he was looking around and taking in the sights, but soon tired of the waiting process and started to fidget. "Nana, my legs hurt"said Daniel. "Okay, we can leave then" said I. "No, I want to see Santa". "Okay then, we will stand in line. You have to be patient Daniel". "I have no patience" said Daniel. "Well, we can leave"..."No I want to stay". This went on for what seemed like an hour.

Finally it was our turn to step up on the platform and be asked to come in and visit Santa. The space was very tiny and was filled with a Christmas Tree, Santa on his chair, a photographer dressed as an Elf, and a lady taking names and addresses of Santa visitors that wanted to purchase a photo. Daniel was very animated and when Santa asked him what he wanted for Christmas he quickly replied "I want a toy motorcycle and a Lightin' McQueen coloring book".
Santa asked if Daniel had been a good boy and he responded the proper answer. He continued to chat with Santa until I finally intervened and said "Daniel, we have to leave now, there are lots of children waiting in line to meet Santa". With that Daniel turned to look at me, paused and then immediately turned back to Santa and threw his arms around his neck and gave him the biggest hug ever! As I watched in wonder, my eyes misted up, not a lot, but just a little. I turned away so Daniel wouldn't see me and I noticed the eyes of the Elf and the Secratary were misty too. Was that a Christmas Miracle?


#2 Visit was held at the Fairview Rec Center, "Breakfast with Santa" hosted by long time friend of Daniel's other grandparents John and Charlene Vas' , Josh Lorick, Financial Services. This is the 3rd year I have been invited to attend with Daniel. Daniel's parents both had to work this year, so Tim and I were able to see this Santa visit together.

Lots of children, lots of parents and grandparents, craft tables and a musician. Very lovely, but I did not get to hear Daniel's conversation with Santa. I was taking the photo below. He was a wonderful and regal Santa as you can see and Daniel seemed to enjoy the experience. He did seem a little reserved while sitting on Santa's lap however. Maybe the presence of his much older cousins Sam 10, Zack 7 and Thomas 5 were a bit intimidating but Santa sure was gorgeous!

#3 Valley City Chamber of Commerce hosted "Christmas in the Valley" the same day replete with a parade and loads of things to see and do at the Liverpool Community Center. One of the highlights was that Santa and Mrs. Claus paid a visit to the parade and rode in "Robin's Nest's little school bus". This is where Daniel goes to pre-school so he was excited to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus since they were riding in "Miss Robin's Bus".

We waited in line for just a few minutes and then it was Daniel's turn. Santa was very handsome but Mrs. Claus was especially beautiful. She sported a white beehive hairdo, white earmuffs with Christmas corsages attached, a lovely red and white faux fur trimmed cape (made by Terry Jones of Eileen's Cafe fame) and white boots trimmed with white fur. She was absolutly Elegant!
She peered at Daniel through her tiny wire rimmed spectacles and said "Well hello Daniel, how are you today?" (It happened to be that Mrs. Claus' day job was part time waitress at Eileen's Cafe, and familiar with Daniel since he was a tiny tot!). Tim and I have taken Daniel to dine at Eileen's for breakfast whenever Daniel gets to sleep over.

Daniel's eyes got as big as saucers as he climbed up on Santa's lap. As he was settling in for his third chat with the big buy, Santa asked the proverbial question "And what do you want for Christmas Daniel?".

Daniel looked up at Santa and said "I already told you once"!

Mrs. Claus whipped her head around to look at me (I was standing behind out of Daniel's line of vision and I hurredly mouthed the words "Toy Motorcycle". Mrs. Claus turned to Santa and said "Oh Santa, you were up so late last night making toys, don't you remember, Daniel wants a Toy Motorcycle".

Leave it to a woman to save the day!

So really, you had all better watch out, Mrs. Claus is watching!

(photo below is Santa #2) (Tim, Daniel and I in front of Santa #2's Tree)

The mouths of babes

She was in the bathroom, putting on her makeup, under
the watchful eyes of her young grandson, as she'd
done many times before. After she applied her lipstick and
started to leave, the little one said, "But Nana you
forgot to kiss the toilet paper good-bye!"

I will probably never
put lipstick on again without thinking about kissing the toilet paper
good-bye....

Holiday Humor!

Know what this is?
Frosty the Snowman's baby pictures!

In this life..

I'm a woman. In my next life I'd like to come back as a bear.
When you're a bear, you get to hibernate. You do nothing but
sleep for six months, conserving your energy.

I could deal with that.

Before you hibernate, you're supposed to eat yourself into a stupor.

I could deal with that too!

When you're a girl bear, you birth your children (who are the size of walnuts) while you're sleeping and wake to partially grown, cute, cuddly cubs.

I could deal with that.

If you're mama bear, everyone knows you mean business. You swat anyone who bothers your cubs. If your cubs get out of line, you swat them too.

I could deal with that.

If you're a bear, your mate EXPECTS you to wake up growling. He EXPECTS that you will have hairy legs and excess body fat.

Yup, gonna be a bear!

What's wrong with this picture?

...everything!

I just opened the mail from the "Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

"This is a summary of claims processed from 8-28-09 through 11-06-09.

Radiology .etc referred by Dr. ----

Amount Charged $66

Medicare Approved $11.05

Medicare Paid Provider $8.84

You may be billed $2.21????

Dr So and So, Referred by Dr. --

Amount Charged $256.00

Medicare Approved $42.13

Medicare Paid Provider $34.50

You May be billed $8.63

It's just wrong, that's all, it's just wrong!

Who does the math for these things?

The old mouse and the cheese routine!

Well, colder weather is here and the little baby field mice have found
their way into the house. How do I know? Because I left the butter uncovered on the counter and there were teeny, tiny toothprints in the butter.

That's it! Scrubbed everything down with Chlorox straight out of the
jug and I was really annoyed.

Tim set three traps, and the next day, no bait and no mice in the traps.

Let's try it again. Mice 3 Tim 0. So, I bought new mouse traps.
This morning, one down, two to go. Mice 2 Tim 1
I just now opened a cupboard door and something
moved. Just a little, not worth jumping back for. I peeked in under the cupboard and lo and hehold a little mouse was caught. Not the conventional way, but he was caught with just enough of his belly to not allow him to get away. Hmmmm, what to do. I looked that little critter right in the eye and said "I know it's cold, and I know it's the Holidays, but brother, you best skeedaddle out of here when I let you loose! There's plenty of food for you in the barn. The horses drop all kinds of grain and the grain cans always have some spillage around them, so let's understand one another okay? You stay out, and I'll make sure there's enough dropped grain this winter to keep you comfy. Okay?????"

Now, how to get the little bugger out of the cupboard and outside without one of us losing our cool. Ah Ha! The kitchen tongs! One pair of heavy winter gloves, one pair of tongs and we are in business. I reached under the cupboard, secured the trap with the tongs and brought the little rascal out from under the sink. Our eyes met. Ahhh, look how little and cute he is. Despereaux?

Damn it, now you've gone and done it. Okay, I slide the patio door open and set the trap down and that darn mouse took off like a shot, dragging the trap behind him. Oh shoot, back into the house to get another pair of tongs (one to hold the trap, and one to release the "clapper" and free the mouse. I couldn't leave him outside dragging a trap all over the yard, and becoming fair game for another varmint!

Well, as luck would have it, I found him under the sage bush in my herb garden. I skillfully picked up the trap with the "long" tongs and then after two tries, successfully pried the "clapper" open and let him "off the hook".

Well, what did you expect me to do?

I'm having one of those days!

Two elderly ladies had been friends for many decades... Over the years they had shared all kinds of activities and adventures. Lately, their activities had been limited to meeting a few times a week to play cards.

One day they were playing cards when one looked at the other and said, 'Now don't get mad at me....I know we've been friends for a long time.....but I just can't think of your name! I've thought and thought, but I can't remember it. Please tell me what your name is.' Her friend glared at her. For at least three minutes she just stared and glared at her.

Finally she said, 'How soon do you need to know?'

THE SENILITY PRAYER

Grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway,

the good fortune to run into the ones I do, and the eyesight to tell the difference.

We celebrated being "thankful"

The day went off without a hitch. Well almost. After everyone was thinking about heading to their homes, Sarah came in from the garage fridge and proclaimed "we forgot the Waldorf Salad"! So, everyone got their take home containers out again and shoveled a little Waldorf Salad in.

Looking at the debris left after the guests (who had offered to help clean up) is a little like post partem depression. We gave birth to this wonderful gathering and feast, we had "labored" for two days, and poof....the deal is done and you sit there looking at the remains of the day. No pun intended.

I had lots of voices offering to help clean up the final phase, dessert plates, silver, wine glasses, more coffee cups and mugs, all the serving plates and bowls, but I said. "No thanks". "If you help me clean up, that will mean I physically have to start cleaning up myself, and I am not ready nor do I have the energy".

Just go and Peace be with you!

Besides, I have to think about making dinner with leftovers tonight.

We did it!

Well, mostly Traci did it!

Yesterday I put pie crust into pans, Traci made the fillings and filled the pie shells, we baked them and voila..10 pies for Thanksgiving dinner!

I could not do Thanksgiving for 18 people without her help.

Thank you Traci, I love you!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

"P" Day

Today is "P" for Pie Day. Traci, my daughter in law is arriving here this morning. She and I will go to breakfast to start our day. Then we will come back here to start baking. The goal: 10 pies. Five pumpkin, one mince, one cranberry, one pecan, one derby, amd one apple.

We will also roast two 19# turkeys, unstuffed of course. These birds will be carved up later by Tim and the meat will be packaged into bags of either "white" or "dark" and then stored in the fridge in the garage. I hate having a holiday meal like Thanksgiving dinner at someone's home, becuase you don't have any leftovers to take home!

Not so on West Law Road!

The Hubbard Squash will be heaved onto the cement to break it's hard shell then washed and prepared for the feast tomorrow.

The six bags of cranberries were prepared into sauce yesterday along with one bag made into cranberry relish (in case anyone wants a choice).

The tables will be set up for 18 or maybe more with the good silver, and linen napkins. And tomorrow the "Thanksgiving" dishes will come out of hiding to grace the table. These are dishes that Tim's father, Lee Winfield Von Duyke purchased years and years ago especially for this special occasion. The "men's" plates measure 15' across, and the ladies measure 13" across. Tim's father got tired of not having enough room on his normal plate for all the Thanksgiving food! So the "big" Blue Willow patterned plates will take their place of honor.

Silver will be polished, and tablecloths ironed. The bread will be shredded for stuffing and set aside to dry. Celery and onions will be chopped and simmered in butter to garnish the stuffing.

No chestnuts in the stuffing this year, because Uncle David can't come to peel them for me.

All will be ready for the big cook off tomorrow. Tomorrow will find a 21# turkey in the oven, and two 7+# turkey breasts (which I will cook in Linda Vaughn's oven) so that no one will only take a small portion from a platter because there doesn't look like enough for the next person to take for his plate.

Ah, Thanksgiving.

For me...it truly is!

I wish!

May your stuffing be tasty

May your turkey be plump,

May your potatoes and gravy Have never a lump.

May your yams be delicious

And your pies take the prize,

And may your Thanksgiving dinner

Stay off your thighs!

This is what I needed today!

Quotation:
"May today there be peace within.
May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others..
May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content with yourself just the way you are..
Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.
It is there for each and every one of us..'

Thanks Maggie!

Just for you all!

A smile is a sign of joy.

A hug is a sign of love.

A laugh is a sign of happiness.

And a friend like me…??

Well, Shit, that's just a sign of good taste!!
And "THANK YOU" for being my FRIEND...!!!

How's your bird?

Thanksgiving dinner growing up….
Let’s see…. Memorable?

Must have been or I wouldn’t be remembering it. The turkey was not what I refer to today as "roasted" Rather it was "steamed". I know, that sounds bizarre, but that is the only explanation I can come up with.

The big bird was stuffed with a wet, wet mixture of bread, onions and eggs. Maybe herbs were used, but I don’t remember. Then the bird was placed in an electric "Roaster" the night before the meal, but sometimes it went into the roaster in the wee hours of Thanksgiving Day. Anyway, the bird was cooked all day, and sometimes all night. No brown crusty skin and certainly nothing that looks like the picture above. I did love the turkey though. I had no educated palate and the once a year bird was delightful to someone whose meals consisted of "spaghetti made with tomato soup", pot roast, again cooked all day, chicken in various forms, mostly UN-memorable and eggs, biscuits and fried fish.

The things I remember most fondly about that Holiday were the side dishes like celery, olives and cranberry sauce. I only saw those items grace the table once a year. They did not appear at Christmas dinner. No that was a "Ham" day!
No, the turkey was the big deal back then. And the "sandwich" was my favorite "cut of the bird"!
When I married Tim, we went to Tim’s sister Marion’s home for the holiday meals. It was just the way it was, and I never questioned it. I would offer to help in the kitchen and it was by watching Marion cook that my horizons were expanded. "Roast" Vs "Electric Roaster". Big difference. She made stuffing for the bird with only Pepperidge Farm Brand white bread. She only used butter/margarine as the moisture, cooking onions and celery in at least four sticks, adding fresh sage leaves (I did not know sage grew like a plant) and she meticulously crumbled the bread a certain way to get even hearty breadcrumbs and pieces.

I watched and learned.

The turkey was slathered in margarine on it’s skin and then the little foil papers that encased the margarine in the package were laid gently on the surface of the bird as it roasted to prevent excessive browning. Resting the bird was another step I knew nothing about. When the bird comes out of the oven, let it sit covered with foil (actually tented would be a better description) and cover with a towel. This resting allows the juices to stay in the meat before carving.
Marion’s husband, Don Murray would be the proud and skillful carver of the bird, and Tim learned this special skill from him. Slicing gently through the breast in thin even slices meant "tender" and moist. No big chunks, hunks and slabs for him. No, no, just nice white moist slices to adorn your plate. Hmmm! I can close my eyes and see the bird now!

After Marion moved to England with little Brook I became the one to cook the Holiday meals. What I did not know, I faked. What I faked miraculously worked. Lots of trial and error involved, but my skills grew and grew. The fact that I love food and that cooking food for my family and friends means that I am showing my love adds the bonus to the long and labor intensive two day Holiday cooking spree.

Sometimes I feel like a marathon runner in a huge race. But the fatigue disappears when the voice at the head of the table says "Can someone pass me the gravy so I can put it on a piece of bread"?

I now cook three turkeys for Thanksgiving dinner. One to carve at the dinner table and two that will be cooked the previous day and then skillfully carved by Tim and the meat placed into packages for family and friends to take home for their own sandwich. All of the side dishes, especially the "stuffing" are made in abundance so guests don’t have to say "no thanks, I’ve had enough as they gaze on a side dish with only a few crumbs left in the bowl. Doubles are good. We once stopped to visit at a family member’s home on Christmas Day, and they were not expecting us. So we were asked to sit in the living room while they ate their holiday meal. We went home and had Campbell’s soup for dinner. Never again will anyone come to my home and not have enough to eat. Expected guest, or unexpected guest!

The only problem with going away from home for a holiday meal is the fact that there are no leftovers to pick at when you get back home. So, the birds are in abundance at our house. (And the Hams, and the Roast Beefs etc)

Rewards may be given out in Heaven, but my reward is here on earth come Holiday Meal Time!

"Dinner’s Ready"!

My two most very favorite words!

Did you ever wonder how something was made?

Ah Ha!

So that is how Libby does it!

Thanks Karen!

The Fabulous Food Show....well almost!

I went to the Food Show at the IX Center yesterday with Sarah, Kevin and Daniel. We arrived at about 10:15 a.m. and we stood outside the ticket window line while Kevin waited to get his ticket. Not too many folks were there as yet, so it was a short wait. I reached into my purse to get the two tickets that I had bought, one for Sarah and one for me. (Traci had too much to do before leaving for a work trip to New York, and Kevin was to fly out on Sunday a.m. so just Sarah and I were going to the show) No tickets! I frantically searched my purse with no luck. I mentally re-traced my steps of the morning. I had placed my purse on the kitchen table and emptied the "non-necessary" for today contents and replaced the wallet, checkbook, inhaler, kleenex and a couple more items.

I then left to go pick up Sarah and Daniel. Kevin was still at home instead of having left for a flight, so he said he would like to come also (Kevin is the cook in their family) Off we went, with Kevin behind the wheel of my car.

I had the presence of mind not to panic, instead I called my neighbor Linda and asked her to go to my house and see if the tickets were on the kitchen table. She called me back and said they were safely lying on the table. She did however give me the ID numbers off the tickets. I proceeded to the ticket window and explained my dilema. "Sorry, you need to buy another ticket" said the teller. "But I have the ID numbers of the tickets I purchased" said I.

After checking with another person behind the glass, we were good to go with receipts for two tickets. Sigh of relief!

Wandering through the show, sampling vendors wares and taking a leisurely stroll around (not a shoulder to shoulder crowd as of yet) Kevin and Daniel and I sat down in the Food Court to take a break, and I opened my purse to get my wallet out. No wallet! I searched and searched but it was not there. Again retracing my steps, I had put my handbag down on the top of a stroller of a friend that we met there and she and the stroller and the two year old had gone in to see Chef Bobbie Flay's Kitchen demo. So I had to wait until she got out of the show. The security person at the entrance of the show said I could go to customer service at the entrance of the IX Center and tell them of the missing wallet.

I trudged back up to the entrance and went to the same teller who had taken care of me initially in the ticket debaucle. She asked "What does it look like"? I responded "Tri fold, brown, fake alligator". She left the window and disappeared into the bowels of the office.

One minute later she appeared and said "is this it?" There was my wallet in her hand. "You left it on counter here at the ticket window".

Is this a one time thing, or is my life slowly changing into the person who forgets things?

I wonder!

Borrowed Time

Hey, did you ever feel like you were living on borrowed time? I don't know what that means exactly but the thought occured to me. This weather is bound to change drastically any day now and I am afraid I am going to get caught with my "pants down"!

So much to do outside, and so little time left. So instead of buckeling down, I am frittering my time away just being outside and enjoying every minute of time that I am not working.

Actually, you will all hate me for this, but I wish it would snow. I know, that is a no-no to wish for, but I really do. I would spend less time frittering and more time making calls.

Also, the Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign has started, and I need cold and snow for people to get into the "mood" to give and to volunteer.

If is snows next week, or the weather turns frosty, you can blame me. I will take all the blame for this one wish!

My sincere apologies to all of you ahead of time.

Sorry!

Sigh!

My sentiments exactly!

I was feeling pretty creaky after listening to the peppy TV reporter say,
"To contact me, go to my Facebook page,
follow me on Twitter, or try me the old-fashioned way: e-mail."
-- Lee Evans

Here comes the bride!

David and Patricia Von Duyke!

They did it!

Traci was a wonderful wedding officiant.

The readings were inspiring.

The family was there.

The food was lucious and plentiful.

The cake was a work of art.

The couple are finally hitched!

Congratulations!

Ding Dong the Bells are going to chime!

David Von Duyke and Patricia Gatesman are getting married today. They have been each other's rock, love and support system for many years. Pat have been David's major caregiver for the last year and a half, going with him to all of the treatments, all of the doctor visits, all of the hospital stays, and has not complained. It is the natural thing to become man and wife. Afterall, they have lived their lives together and separate for so long that it is hard for me to introduce Pat as Pat Gatesman not "David's wife".

David and Pat are getting married surrounded by all of their children and family and friends this afternoon at the Comfort Inn in Seville, Ohio at 3:30 p.m. Reception following.

Our daughter-in-law, Traci Purdum Von Duyke is the wedding officiant.
Let's keep it all in the family!
Looking forward to seeing lots of joy this afternoon.
Looking forward to drinking a toast to the happy couple!

Now they're talkin'

(photo below is 6708 West Law Road, Valley City, Ohio 44280, my new listing @ $389,000.)

Senate Clears Homebuyer Tax Credit Extension; May Pass as Early as This Week
By Steve Cook and Brett Arends

RISMEDIA, November 5, 2009—After two weeks of delay, the Senate cleared the way to pass a seven month extension and expansion of the tax credit for homebuyers. By an 85 to 2 roll call vote, the Senate voted to cut off debate on a package of measures that includes the homebuyer credit, making it virtually certain that the legislation will reach President Obama for his signature this week.

The homebuyer tax credit, due to expire at the end of November would be extended through April 30 of next year. First-time buyers who are in the process of making a purchase would not need to worry about qualifying for the $8,000 credit if they close after the November 30 deadline.

For the first time, the legislation that was recently cleared makes move-up buyers as well as first-time buyers eligible for a credit. The $8,000 maximum first-timer credit will continue and will now be available to couples with income up to $225,000, a nearly $55,000 increase above the level in existing law. A new $6,500 maximum credit would also be available to move-up homeowners who have lived in their current residence for five of the prior eight years.

For homebuyers across the country, the expanded tax credit would allow more people to qualify for the credit. While two-thirds of American families own their own home, and most earn less than the income limits that have been established within the extension, more buyers may be eligible. Move-up buyers don’t have to sell their current home to qualify for the new credit, but the money cannot be used to buy a vacation home. “It’s only for a primary residence,” said Regan Lachapelle, a spokeswoman for Sen. Harry Redi (D-Nev.), who helped engineer the deal. “In expanding the tax credit, we are helping first-time home buyers, as well as homeowners looking to move up to a new home, but we would exclude from the credit speculators who may have recently purchased a home intending to flip it for a fast profit,” said Senator Max Baucus, Democrat of Montana and chairman of the Finance Committee.

The tax credit has fired-up the housing market, driving existing home sales to the highest level in over two years. The National Association Realtors reported sales jumped 9.4% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.57 million units in September and are 9.2% higher than the 5.10 million-unit pace in September 2008.

The legislation included provisions added to address complaints of fraud as well. The Internal Revenue Service is given greater authority to oversee the process to root out fraud, and provisions are added in response to past abuses of false sales or underage buyers. An investigation by the Treasury Department’s Inspector General for Tax Administration found that more than 580 children, some as young as four years old, had received $627,000 in first-time homebuyer credits.

The IRS has identified 167 suspected criminal schemes and opened nearly 107,000 examinations of potential civil violations of the first-time homebuyer tax credit.
For more information, visit http://www.realestateeconomywatch.com/ and http://www.wsj.com/. Read more: http://rismedia.com/2009-11-04/senate-clears-homebuyer-tax-credit-extension-may-pass-as-early-as-this-week/#ixzz0VzDEX7Ko

There's one in every crowd!

Just after I finished my blog about the leaves being vacuumed up by my neighbor, Bruce, I happened to walk outside in front of the garage and looked up.

Yep! There it was alright....one last leaf!

I won't trouble Bruce, I think I'll just wait until it falls off the tree, and quietly stoop over and pick it up myself!

Guess that's why they call this season "Fall"!

Suck it up!

Saturday and Sunday were nice days here in Northern Ohio, with sunny skies on and off, and the temp not tood cold. We are surrounded by trees, oaks, maples and willows. Fall is both beautiful and messy!

Tim is quite fanatical (sp?) about leaves laying on the lawn and blowing into the pond, so last year he bought a leaf vac that gets pulled behind the mower.

Tim is out of town, and I know he worries about the leaves accumulating.

Thanks to Bruce who lives next door (who also bought a "tow behind" leaf vac), I came home both days to find Bruce "suckin' up" our leaves. He unloaded at least six big vacuum's full!

Good neighbors' make this world a better place and makes us richer for having them!

Thanks neighbor!

(On the lower left is the type of leaf vac both Tim, Bruce and Jerry the neighbor on the other side own and on the upper right is the vac we used up until last year, which made the job long and laborious!)

Swept off my feet!

Two brooms were hanging in the closet and after a while they got to know each other so well, they decided to get married..
One broom was, of course, the bride broom, the other the groom broom.
The bride broom looked very beautiful in her white dress. The groom broom was handsome and suave in his tuxedo. The wedding was lovely.
After the wedding, at the wedding dinner, the bride-broom leaned over and said to the groom-broom, 'I think I am going to have a little whisk broom!'
'IMPOSSIBLE !' said the groom broom.
Are you ready for this?
Brace yourself; this is going to hurt! ! ! !! !

'WE HAVEN'T EVEN SWEPT TOGETHER!'
............ ............ ..............
Oh for goodness sake... Laugh, or at least groan.
Life's too short not to enjoy... Even these silly
....little cute............. And clean jokes!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sounds to me like she's .......
......been ..........sweeping around!!!
Thanks to Rae Ann for this one!

Trick or Treat!

I love Halloween!

I have always loved Halloween!

I will always love Halloween!

That being said, here is a photo of Daniel and me at a party last evening. The hostess said "dress up if you like, come as you are, or come in barn clothes".

So, I came as I was! Daniel is dressed as "Larry Boy", the Super Hero of Veggie Tale fame.

What fun. I did let him sit next to me as I readied my makeup for the festivities. I did not want him to run screaming!

When Sarah and Nathan were in Elementary School, I got dressed up like the photo above, only I had sprayed my hair jet black and wore a big cloak. I visited each of their school rooms the day of the school's Halloween party. I said not a word, just appeared at the door and walked around the classroom and left.

When Sarah and Nathan got home from school that day, they clamored "Mom, you should have seen the witch that came to our rooms today!" "She was really scary!"

Yea, she was!

Us seniors have to have a little fun somedays!

Thanks to Mickie for sending this.
Subject: Parking Ticket
Working people frequently ask retired people what they do to make their days interesting. Well, for example, the other day my wife and I went into town and went into a shop. We were only in there for about 5 minutes.. When we came out, there was a cop writing out a parking ticket. We went up to him and said, 'Come on man, how about giving a senior citizen a break?' He ignored us and continued writing the ticket.
I called him a turd. He glared at me and started writing another ticket for having worn tires. So my wife called him a s - - -head. He finished the second ticket and put it on the windshield with the first. Then he started writing a third ticket. This went on for about 20 minutes. The more we abused him, the more tickets he wrote.
Personally, we didn't care. We came into town by bus and the car had an Obama sticker. We try to have a little fun each day now that we're retired. It's important at our age.
=

Bye, Bye Bourbon and Diet Coke!

What next?

One of my all time favorite "alcoholic" libations in the summer is Bourbon and Diet Coke, in a tall glass, with lots of ice and a slice of lemon or lime.

I don't drink much, or often for that matter, but occasionally at a big Horse Show where I am a spectator, not showing, having a horse shown, or working, I have been known to get a bourbon and diet coke. In a tall glass, it doesn't look like a "drink". Maybe one, maybe two at the max, but that would be my horse show drink of choice if I were asked to have a drink.

Well......not after reading this in "The no-Diet Weight loss Solution!" "Eat this..Not That!"

quote..."Skip this classic and you may sidestep the hangover entirely. An Australian study found that mixing liquor with a diet drink nearly doubles your blood alcohol content. And darker-colored slcohols like whiskey, brandies, and red wine are more likely to cause a hangover than lighter-colored alcohols, like gin and vodka. This is because darker liquors contain more congners-impurities that are the by-products of fermentation and agiing--for your body to process".

Damn! I guess I'll have to go with vodka and tonic. Afterall there is that healthy quinine issue!

The colors of Ohio

The fall colors may have been more vibrant earlier in the week, but this was the colorful day that I shared with friends on Sunday at the Cleveland Metroparks polo fields trail ride.

I used to trail ride often with my friend Joan Martin. We would travel to the metroparks near Olmsted Falls, and ride all the way out to the stables at the bottom of the Puritas Hill and back.

We would put money, ID and kleenex into a white man's sock, tie it to the latigo strings on our saddle, shove a candy bar into the sock just for giggles, and take the afternoon off. We even rode on Thanksgiving day, sort of like a tradition.

We would ride with Mrs. Adele von Ohl Parker off the Mastick Road property in North Olmsted (Mrs. Parker was a famous trick rider with the Wild West shows, and Hollywood). She would don her siddlesaddle attire and climb aboard "Traveler" and go down the hill. It was an honor to ride with her, and I only was able to do it once.

I was the "horse crazy" kid that sat on the curb on W.50th Street in Cleveland, and wait for the Producer's Milk wagon to come past my house so I could feed carrots to the horse. Lots of water over that dam, and lots of river fording with my friend Joan.

Sunday was a fond trip down memory lane for me.

I tought of Joan often on the ride, and of her beloved big bay horse "Loki".

What a great day! I am still smiling!

A day for me.

I just spent 3/4's of a day on me. Just me! I feel great!

I took Country Club on a trail ride with the NEOAHA group

at the Cleveland Metro Parks trails at the Polo Frields.

One hour out, and one hour back. Invigorating! We rode and

then had a snack after we got back. Weather was perfect, no

rain, temp was 57 degrees, and it was exhilerating, and replenishing!

Great day! Great friends! Great horses! Great to be alive!

Read the fine print!

Hey, we spent last evening helping Nathan and Traci empty the contents of their family room , along with Sarah and Kevin, and Traci's brother Todd. The carpet and padding could be ripped up because there is a leak in the foundation of the home and the carpet and padding were ruined. Nathan is still on crutches, so he could just supervise. They had just purchased a three piece wrap-around sectional and matching double chair and ottoman for their rec room. Big, Big, and heavy.

Living room furniture moved to the garage, family room furniture moved to the living room, and life as they know it is "upside down"!

They are awaiting the estimate on the foundation repair, then they have to purchase new carpeting and padding and have it installed, and then all the furniture must come back to where it works best!

No...it is not covered in their home owners!

Sigh!

It's a Girl!...What do you mean it's a girl?

I don't have any girl names picked out yet! Such was the day 36 years ago at Berea Hospital when I gave birth to Sarah Elizabeth Von Duyke.

October 22, I rode a Quarter Horse mare by the name of "Squeeky's Mollie" at Bernice Ferry's Valleywood Farm in a schooling show. Then I went in the house at Bernice's for Dinner.

Hmmm, I am having pains. Hmmm, there's another one. Bernice said "you're not eating any lasagna or anything else for that matter, I think you are in labor!

And so I was. I had my water break at 1:00 in the morning of October 23, 1973 and so off we went to the hospital. Yup, there's a baby in there all right, and she's heading out. Breach to be exact! Feet first, and with her heels down!

Just one pull and she popped out like I was shellin' peas! 3:30 a.m, no long stay in the hospital labor room for me!

She has been "riding" ever since......with her heels down!

Happy 36th Birthday Sis!

(photo above is Sarah on the left, driving Lucious Lorriane at Walnut Hill, Pittsford, New York, August 2009 and photo on the right is Sarah driving Winfield Renasanz (Tyler for short) when Tyler was 20 years old. Tyler was Sarah's first horse, and is still Queen of the Barn today)

A Bad Day at Hallmark!

~ Ever wonder what happens when Hallmark writers are having a bad day ~

My tire was thumping. I thought it was flat When I looked at the tire... I noticed your cat. Sorry!

Heard your wife left you, How upset you must be. But don't fret about it... She moved in with me.

Looking back over the years that we've been together, I can't help but wonder... 'What the hell was I thinking?'

Congratulations on your wedding day! Too bad no one likes your husband. ~

How could two people as beautiful as you Have such an ugly baby?

I've always wanted to have someone to hold, someone to love. After having met you ... I've changed my mind.

I must admit, you brought Religion into my life. I never believed in Hell until I met you.

As the days go by, I think of how lucky I am... That you're not here to ruin it for me.

Congratulations on your promotion. Before you go... Would you like to take this knife out of my back? You'll probably need it again.

Happy Birthday, Uncle Dad! (Available only in Tennessee , Kentucky & West Virginia )

Happy birthday! You look great for your age. Almost Life like!

When we were together, you always said you'd die for me. Now that we've broken up, I think it's time you kept your promise.

We have been friends for a very long time let's say we stop?

I'm so miserable without you it's almost like you're here.

Congratulations on your new bundle of joy. Did you ever find out who the father was?

Your friends and I wanted to do something special for your birthday. So we're having you put to sleep.

So your daughter's a hooker, and it spoiled your day. Look at the bright side, it's really good pay

Best Menopause Question Ever!

Q: How many women with MENOPAUSE does it take to change a light bulb?

One! ONLY ONE!!!! And do you know WHY? Because no one else in this house knows HOW to change a light bulb! They don't even know that the bulb is BURNED OUT!! They would sit in the dark for THREE DAYS before they figured it out.
And, once they figured it out, they wouldn't be able to find the stupid light bulbs despite the fact that they've been in the SAME CABINET for the past 17 YEARS!
But if they did, by some miracle of God, actually find them, 2 DAYS LATER, the chair they dragged to stand on to change the STUPID light bulb would STILL BE IN THE SAME SPOT!!!!! AND UNDERNEATH IT WOULD BE THE WRAPPER THE LIGHT BULBS CAME IN!!! BECAUSE NO ONE EVER PICKS UP OR CARRIES OUT THE GARBAGE!!!! IT'S A WONDER WE HAVEN'T ALL SUFFOCATED FROM THE PILES OF GARBAGE THAT
ARE A FOOT DEEP THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE HOUSE!! IT WOULD TAKE AN ARMY TO CLEAN THIS PLACE! AND...
....... DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON WHO CHANGES THE TOILET PAPER ROLL !!

I'm sorry. What was the question?

Disturbing newspaper story

Today's Medina Gazette had a front page story and photo of a Rottweiler/shepherd mix dog named "Penney". It seems the dog was at the home of the owner's boyfriend because the owner could not keep the dog in her own home or apt.

Anyway, no one was home when the boyfriends' father, age 71 came to the house to cut wood. He allegedly wanted to give the dog more water than the water already in her bowl/bucket in a cage. Dog jumped up at him and barked. Repeatedly. The man opened the cage to give the dog water and had a fence post in his hand. He struck the dog repeatedly over her body and "Upside" the head. The dog died.

How stupid can someone be? To beat something when you had no business being in that animal's space. An enclosed, contained space at that.

He is pleading "Not Guilty".

Good thing I'm not on the jury!

Clippity, clippity, clop!

I attended a class this week on saving money. Lo and behold the class was actually about clipping coupons and saving money.

The presenter had a table filled with products, cereal, toothpaste, cat treats, tooth brushes, brownie mix, corn muffin mix, to only name a few. She challenged us to calculate what she had spent on the table full of goods.

"$15, $20, $25 etc" were amounts shouted out by the audience.

"No" she said "$.38"! Yes she said 38 cents. Then she showed us the register receipt to prove it.

I was amazed. I always fondle the flyers that come in the Sunday paper. Sometimes I clip, then those coupons sit on the table for a few days, then I move them to another spot, then I can't find them, then I forget about them and then months later, I come across them and they are all expired! Duh! Why bother?

Well, I did a little experiment. For starters, she advised us to shop where the coupons are doubled up to 99 cents. i.e. Giant Eagle. Now I don't like the "bird" store, for many reasons that are unimportant, but their prices are higher than everyone else's prices. They have to pay for what they lose on gas prices somehow.

She advised us to only take the coupons for products that we actually like and use, to stockpile, not to buy produce at the "Bird" store, but to buy produce at Aldi's or Marc's, take an envelope with those specific coupons in it, write on the outside of the envelope what the sales are etc.

More info than I could retain at once, but I thought, "what the heck". So off I went to Giant Eagle. I purchased the items that were on sale that I knew were good prices, and the Buy One, Get One Free. I spent $43.34 and saved an additional $24.73. Hey, maybe she has something here. I then came home and clipped coupons. From flyers that were from two Sunday papers ago. I got a whole stash. I did not sort them however, oh and I clipped the Walgreen ones per her instructions. I went to Walgreens and spent $62 and change, I totalled up and saved over $25.00. Next I went to Walmart with the coupons that were over 99 cents, like $1.00, $1.25, $1.50 and $2.00. Again, I spent $60 some dollars, but came home and tallied and saved another $30 some dollars.

I love to shop, so the shopping part satisfied my inner "shopper's anonymous" addiction but I spent a lot of time searching for stuff in the store, and was disappointed at not finding some things.

Perhaps if I were more organized, had stuff in a holder by category instead of spread out through my purse it would be easier. But the lady standing in line behind me at the Bird store said to me, "How much did you save"? She was amazed and so was I.

In all I saved almost $80.00 and only bought what we would actually use.

Hmmmmm!

Maybe I'll continue this clipping.

Wait now, I think I hear the paper man delivering the Sunday paper, "Hey Tim, don't drop the coupon flyers out of the paper when you bring it up the driveway"!

The Black Bra as seen after 44 years of marriage!

The other day I had lunch with 2 of my unmarried friends.One is engaged, one is a mistress, and of course I have been married for 44+ years. We were chatting about our relationships and decided to amaze our men by wearing a black leather bra & bodice, stiletto heels and a mask over just our eyes. We agreed to meet in a few days to exchange notes.

Here's how it all went:

My engaged friend: The other night my boyfriend came over and found me wearing a black leather bodice, tall stilettos and a mask. He saw me and said, 'You are the woman of my dreams. I love you.' Then we made love all night long.

The mistress:

Me too! The other night I met my lover at his office and I was wearing the leather bodice, heels and mask over my eyes and a raincoat. When I opened the raincoat he didn't say a word, but we had wild sex all night.

Then I had to share my story:

When my husband came home I was wearing the leather bodice, black stockings, stilettos and a mask over my eyes. As soon as he came in the door and saw me he said…

"What's for dinner, Batman?"

Sigh!

Did you ever have one of those days?

What I learned in the CT Scan Department.........

...................will fill a gnat's behind!

Yesterday I was privileged to be the "testee" at the Medina Hospital's radiology department for my head. The joke here is "duh, what are they going to find, when it was empty to begin with...yuk, yuk, yuk!) Alright already!

After hitting my head on the asphalt on Thursday afternoon at the Horse Show I experienced dizziness, nausea, sweating and other assorted unpleasantries. Well, I was'nt going to the emergency room etc, I was going to be just fine. Then my son Nathan said two words to me ...

Natashia Richardson!

The lovely actress who fell on the ski slope, hitting her head, and dying a few hours later.

So, off I trudged to the Dr.'s office. Janet examined me, said my blood pressure was a little high, and rechecked it later, still a little high. She thought a CT Scan was in order, not because of some great trauma, but because she wanted to know if any "little" blood vessels were compromised or bleeding out.

The receptionist called Medina Hospital (Not Medina "General" Hospital anymore with the advent of the Cleveland Clinic merger) to make the appointment. The ensuing conversation was like a sitcom featuring Lucy and Desi. She would listen to the voice on the phone asking questions, and then relay the questions my way, and then back with the answers.

Seems Medicare won't pay for a CT Scan unless there is a headache involved. Duh! My head ached, but a "Palm of your hand sized goosegg" didn't count, even though it made my "head ache"! Well, how much does a CT Scan cost? sez I. If I thought I was dizzy before the answer, it ain't nothin' compared to what I was after the answer, "You don't even want to know" said the receptionist.

Okay then, what do we do? How about "I think I'm developing a severe headache while I am standing here!" Not good enough. Then the right question was asked. "Are you having any dizziness?" "BINGO"!!!!! In like Flynn! and don't forget to stay hydrated! Drinking glasses of water, after glasses of water made my trip to the hospital a little longer journey. I had to stop and two McDonald's to pee on the way!

So, with no waiting, no time to run, no time to change my mind, I was ushered into a room of sterile white, told to lay down my purse and jacket, no hospital gown, no dye in the vein, not even taking off of shoes, Voila! I am partially in the tube, lying very still, trying to remember every flash of medical show I have watched on TV and believe me. It was nothing like the movie!

"You are all done now, the radioligist will review the film and forward the information to your doctor"

And I got myself all worked up for that?

Gheez!

Now I wait for the results. Always a fun way to pass the time!