What I got for Christmas

Well, for Christmas, I had all my "chickens" home in my nest.  We did have a White Christmas for the first time in a long time.  We had a wonderful Christmas dinner, I put the leaf in my kitchen table, and all six of us sat down and ate pheasant, mashed potatoes, corn casserole, green beans, and rolls. I think the girls chose wonderful boyfriends and I just love my little family.

 

For Christmas I got an iPhone attachment that lets me talk like I would on a regular phone. I love it!

 

I also got the Zumba Fitness DVD set (with toning sticks) that I can use at home on the days that I don't go to an organized Zumba class at the YMCA.

As a present to myself, I bought some new Zumba shoes.  I wore them today to my Zumba class.  I like them. I also got an Amazon gift certificate so I can purchase more books for my Kindle.

Kaitlyn and Michael also gave us a Houdini wine bottle opener. 

Waiting for My Family to Come Home

Okay, after a week of my family being gone, I'm ready for them to come home.  Although I have been pretty busy the last few days. Friday, Jann and I left around noon and went up to the city to go furniture shopping for our new office.  We bought a couple more used 5-drawer lateral file cabinets, saw lots of desks and chairs, visited a reupholsterer's shop and looked in several antique shops for unique pieces of furniture.  We also went to a specialty jewelry shop (Silver Leaf Gems) so Jann could get one of her necklaces shortened that she purchased there.  She told me I could pick out anything I wanted up to $200.  I found this necklace and earring set on the 50% off table.  It's really pretty.  I don't have much green stuff, but I already had some red coral and turquoise jewelry so I decided to get something different.

After we got tired of shopping we had our office Christmas party - we went to Mama Rojas restaurant on Lake Hefner in Oklahoma City and watched the sunset as we ate our tilapia with chips and salsa, etc. 

Saturday, I got up early and went to Weightwatchers, then went to Zumba at the YMCA.  I did some grocery shopping in case we have another Snowpocalypse on Christmas like we did a couple of years ago.  Jann had invited me over for dinner with her and Tom. And because I hadn't seen her house in a couple of years and she had it decorated real pretty.  She made Shepherd's pie and a salad.  It was yummy.  We watched a movie and Tom gave me a bottle of wine from the winery to bring home.

This morning I got up and went to church and then one of the ladies in my prayer shawl group and I went to breakfast and went up to the city to see the newest Cirque du Soleil show.  Joe gave me a pair of tickets before he went out of town.  I really enjoyed the show (I think the name of the show was Dralian or something like that) and I thought it was better than the Saltimbanco one I saw several years ago.

Tomorrow I'm going to use my mani-pedi gift certificate from my birthday and pamper my feet and hands while I wait for the family to get home safe and sound before the snow hits tomorrow night.  I'm going to make my Cranberry-jalepeno dip to take over to Joe's Aunt Cindy's house tomorrow night and depending on when the family gets home, I may or may not go to Christmas Eve service.  I may even try to make a Hummingbird cake to eat on Christmas Day.  I've never made one and I had a piece when I went to Guthrie a couple of weeks ago.  The recipe just happened to be in a Southern Living magazine this past fall - so I've got to try it.  I'm making it from scratch so wish me luck!  I'll post pictures later.

I discovered Lorna is on Pinterest and I've started following her.  It's amazing the stuff that we like that is the same.  I even went through my Pinterest boards the other day and re-organized them making more boards so I could find stuff easier.

Oh and this is the recipe for my bourbon balls.....

My Favorite Week

A couple of weeks ago, our Prayer Shawl ministry had our annual Christmas Tea.  I brought bourbon balls again and used the "good stuff".  I also took a big swig out of the bottle while making them - made the experience so much more fun.....hee hee

 

This is one of my favorite weeks of the year.  The whole family has gone skiing and I have the whole house to myself to do whatever I want.  Last Saturday, I got up early and went to WeightWatchers, then went to Zumba at the YMCA, afterwards I went to the beautyshop to get my hair cut.  I went to a Christmas get together at one of the moms that had a daughter on the Pom Squad in high school with Kaitlyn.  Sunday morning I work up early, and before I went to church I did two loads of laundry, changed the sheets on my bed, swept, dusted, fed the dogs then went to church. When I came home, I cleaned the master bath, mopped the floor, cleaned out some paperwork and cut out a pattern.  I don't know where all that energy came from.

 

Kaitlyn left "puppy" with me so I could wash him (trust me he was black).  He has so many holes in him, the stuffing is falling out and he is in desperate need of repair but there is nothing left to hold the material together, it's so rotten. She still sleeps with the damn thing and Michael encourages it! So after I washed it, I put a sign on it, took a photo and sent it to her in a text while she's in Colorado.

 

 

 

This week, I also finished another scarf.  I think this one is for me.  It's really sparkly.

 

I also made a Christmas Apron that I'm going to give to my friend, Kay.  She gave me a birthday present, and I didn't get her one so I'm giving her the apron and I also made her a pink/white ruffle scarf too.

This coming Sunday, I'm going to the Cirque du Soleil show (Joe got me tickets) with one of the ladies from my Prayer Shawl group.  Jann and I are taking off Monday and Tuesday, so I  may go use my mani/pedi gift certificate Monday and relax and drink some wine (Joe got me the DELUXE package for my birthday). The family will be home on Monday evening provided the snow/blizzard holds off on the plains until Christmas Day.

Busy Week

At the church Advent festival, I worked at one of the middle school tables.  We made necklaces from recycled t-shirts.  Some of the kids necklaces looked very cute!

I've finished my second one of these scarves.  I bought yarn for 2 more. They are quick and easy to make so some of my friends are getting one for Christmas!!

















Yesterday, I took some time off work and danced with some of the ladies from my Zumba Gold group at the YMCA.  We went to the Arbor House Reminiesce Memory Care Center.  We danced to Christmas music and had a good time.  Some of the residents were clapping and singing, and others were asleep in their chair.  The lady in all black beside me on the end was Kristen's 4th grade teacher at Monroe.  She is retired now and she comes to class everyday just like I do.  We've gotten to be good friends.  The lady in pink in the middle is our Zumba teacher.  She is such fun. All of the ladies in our little group have a good time dancing together and we all LOVE Zumba.

Yay, It's December!

Well, now that it is December - I'm not taking any more pictures every day.  That got to be too much trouble.  So I'll just add as I feel like it.  Last weekend Jann and I went to the Norman Philharmonic's Winter Concert.  It was held in my church. We sat in the balcony so we could "see" better. The cost of the ticket ($10) was to help provide free nights at the Food and Shelter for Friends here in Norman (for the homeless families).

 

One of the little girls that Kaitlyn used to play soccer with had a dad that is a dentist here in Norman.  I saw this sign outside his building the other day and told Kaitlyn about it.  Apparently, he doesn't want to hire a Dental Hygienist, only dental assistants, who not only don't have to have a college degree they don't even have to go to college.  So remember that the next time you are going to a dentist, do you want someone working on your teeth that is not a RDH (registered dental hygienist), with a degree to back them up.

 

 

 

I went into Hobby Lobby the other night (I'm getting crafting fever again) and was rummaging around in the fabric department and found some cream/red chevron material.  I bought one yard so I'll have it next football season.....

 

Yesterday, I drove to Guthrie to use my Groupon that I purchased last summer.  I ended up taking a class (mitered square cowl) which I will post a picture of when I get more of it made.  I also did some antiquing in a few of their many antique stores there.  I found this little pitcher and couldn't remember if it was mom or Granny that had the same one.  I vividly remember someone making tea in it.  So I bought myself one.  I also saw many of the brown dishes that mom bought at the grocery store when I was little and that I eventually inherited and left with Merry when I moved to Oklahoma.  They want lots of money for that old stuff!!  I also saw a set of Lorna's dishes that she got when she first got married - Pfaltzgraf "Villager".  I couldn't help but smile when I saw them.  I remember she had EVERYTHING ever invented to go with that set.

I am also making one of these scarves.  It is EXTREMELY easy to make.  You can buy the yarn at Wal-mart and I purchased some more of it at Michael's this morning - it is on sale this week.  There is a video on YouTube that shows you how to do it and you can make one in about an hour - that's how easy it is. 

 

This afternoon, I'm working the annual Advent Festival at my church like I do every year. This year I'm working with middle schoolers making a necklace out of recycled t-shirts.

More November Photos

On the 11th of November, the picture is "Night."  Here's the football stadium at night, after everyone's left.

 

November 12th was drink.  Here's the Bloody Mary's we were drinking before game while tailgating a couple of weeks ago.

 

November 13th, where I slept.  My wonderful, comfy, cozy bed.  So happy I purchased a new mattress and box spring this summer with my bonus money.  My back rarely hurts at all any more.

 

November 14th was something man-made.  Last weekend, our Prayer Shawl Ministry group fed the college kids from the Wesley Foundation.  We fed them frito chili pie, with salad and dessert.  We also had made all the scarves you see here.  We laid them out on a table and the kids got to pick the one(s) they wanted to take and keep. It's fun to watch them "shop" for their scarf.

 

 

 

November 15th was "In my bag".  Don't have a picture. So I'm substituting the turkey cookie that Jennifer's mother-in-law made for our Thanksgiving dinner.  Very cute!

 

 

 

November 16th is the view from my window.  Lots of leaves.....and the beautiful Fall colors.

November 17th was the last thing I bought.  Thursday night (at midnight, so technically Friday morning) I hit Old Navy to purchase some of the things for an 8-year old girl whose wish list I pulled from the Angel Tree at the YMCA (my Zumba Gold class).  I ended up buying everything on her list since I got such good deals AND I had a $10 coupon too.  Loved doing it!

November 18 was "happened this weekend."  Tailgating with my family and friends and the BEST football game I've been to in awhile (Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State). November 19 was something awesome - we came from behind to win during overtime!   AWESOME? HELL YEAH!

November 19 was "work/play".  Played a lot yesterday during the tailgate. November 20 was what I wore - well, those pictures are below.

November 22 was what I'm grateful for.  I'm grateful for my two daughters who I love very much and I'm so proud of.

 

 

November 23 was something black. Don't have a picture for that... November 24 was a sound I heard - the sound of winning.

November 25th was sky - here's a picture of the sky over the stadium yesterday.  Just a perfect fall day!

Continuing with 30 Days of Pictures - November

On the 9th of November, we were supposed to take a picture of something small.  I took a picture of this small bud vase. Last weekend, Joe was out working in the yard and brought me this rose he picked off a bush he planted in the back yard.  It was sweet and unexpected and I put it in this small bud vase beside our picture on the hearth.

The 10th was something we can't (won't) live without.  I have to say other than my microwave (cause I can still use my stove/oven) - probably my iPad (really the internet).  I LOVE my iPad.  I use it for a lot of things.  I play games on it every day.  I cook with it. I just pull up my Pinterest recipes and have them right there.  If I don't like them, I can delete them and not have to worry about how much space they are taking up in a notebook somewhere.  Same with sewing projects - I can keep the picture up right beside where I'm sewing.  I can read my book or my newspaper online, look at some of my print magazines online (which I'm going to stop taking). I look at Pinterest the same way I used to look at magazines - who needs a bunch of advertisements?? I send emails to my children/friends. I get on Facebook and look at friends' pictures and keep up with their lives.  If I'm watching a movie on TV and I see someone but can't remember what else I've seen them in - I just pull up my handy-dandy IMDB app and look them up.  Check out the weather for the day... All from the comfort of my couch in my robe. I don't even have to go get on my computer anymore (but I still do occasionally).  My iPad doesn't do EVERYTHING I need, but it comes very, very close.  As a secretary, I can say unequivocably that the internet has changed my job immensely since I started in 1973, typing on a manual typewriter. Thank you Jann for giving me an iPad last fall (October 2011).  I love it!!

30 Days of Pictures in November

November 4 - The picture of a TV.  Here's the TV in our bedroom.  Every night after I read for about 20-30 minutes I turn the TV on and watch Family Guy.  I like a good laugh at the end of the day. I usually fall asleep and Joe turns it off when he comes to bed.

November 5 was a clock showing 5:00.  Here is my TV at 5:00 A.M. for those of you who rarely see the butt crack of dawn like I do some days....

November 6 was a favorite thing. I'd have to go with my season tickets to the Broadway series this year.  I went and saw Mary Poppins last night.  I can't wait for West Side Story to come in May.

 

 

November 7 was a reflection.  I don't have one of those, so I thought I would show you the line at my voting place the other night.  I had been waiting about an hour when I took this picture.  It took me another 30 minutes to get up to the check-in point.

 

Today, November 8, was something I do every day.  I weigh in on my Weight Watcher's scale EVERY morning. Will this be the day I break through 150 pounds?  Um, so far, NO! My body is fighting me with everything it's got.  And that damn leftover Halloween candy keeps laughing and calling my name....

 

 

November - 30 days of pictures

I found a thing on Pinterest where you take a picture every day in November of something on their list.  November 1 was something that begins with a C. I was going to take a picture of myself, but decided that I needed to take a picture of my Cuisinart Coffeemaker that makes the Coffee I need every morning when I get up.  However, since it's black, and the shine from the flash on the camera has pointed out how dirty my coffee pot looks in this light.  Hmmmm, better go CLEAN IT.

November 2 was Color.  Turquoise has to be my FAVORITE COLOR.  I love blue and I love green so it makes sense that a blend of the two is my favorite.

November 3rd was Breakfast. This was my breakfast this morning.  First I had to go to Weight Watcher's for my meeting and to weigh in so I don't eat anything before I go (just drink my coffee).  I lost a half-pound this week.  Then I drove straight to Kristen's apartment in the city for a United Way Zumbathon. She invited me to do it with her at Chesapeake Energy.  I had to "power up" before doing hard-core zumba for 90 minutes. I had peanut butter crackers and a banana with Gatorade.  Afterward, we scarfed down Chick-fil-a while watching the 2nd half of the OU-Iowa State game.

Wrap up for October

 

 

 

Friday night, Kaitlyn and Michael went to a Halloween party. At the last minute, she decided to go as a "whale trainer". We didn't have any water shoes so she wore some of her old rain boots (you know they wear those when they are feeding the whales).

 

 

Saturday we had a big tailgate before the Notre Dame game.  Michael went down to see Gameday on ESPN and his sign was picked as one of the top signs.  Kay and I sat together at the game, we had 50 yard line seats in the upper deck, as well as having our own chairs (not on a bench!) complete with cup holders.  Here is a picture before kickoff looking over some of the university campus.

 

Instead of everyone wearing all red or all white, we had a "stripe-out" where you wore a specific color if you were in an even or odd section.  It looked pretty cool.  Sadly, we didn't win. But we all had a great time.

Jody Zimmerman

For my family that knows Jody Zimmerman: he and I are friends on Facebook.  I love looking at his pictures (he has a beautiful home in Louisville, KY).  I also share his love of animals - he raises and shows Weimareiners and is president of the Louisville Weimareiners Club (or something like that). He is also an author and a certified Yoga instructor.  I truly believe that he is probably the most successful of the 3 Zimmerman children.  Anyway, I've added a link to his blog on the side of my blog.  I hope you enjoy it.  Looks like he lives an enviable life!

Tailgating and Smashing Pumpkins

This weekend, Michael, his friends, and Joe set up another tailgate.  Joe's mom and her husband, Johnny, stopped by, Michael's dad came by (this was our first time to meet him), Mark, Kathy and one of their girls stopped by. Monty and Michelle came by.  Some of Kaitlyn and Kristen's sorority sisters dropped by.  We had a great time.  OU beat the heck out of Kansas, so EVERYONE was leaving the stadium early.  Kristen and I left about half way into the 3rd quarter.  Joe stayed with Michael to break down the tailgate.  We plan on setting up another one next weekend for the big game against Notre Dame.

Last night someone picked up our pumpkins off the front porch and tried to smash them in the front yard.  Joe heard them and woke up, then woke me up.  The dogs slept through the whole thing (so much for being watch dogs!).  Every year there are smashed pumpkins in our street.  This was the first year we had real pumpkins on our porch since the girls were small and we carved them for jack-o-lanterns.  I guess I'll go back to fake pumpkins on the porch next year. I'm thinking of putting a sign up that says, "Smile, you're on camera."  Kinda like the "Beware of Dog" signs you see.

OU/TX Weekend 2012

We had a great time on our annual trek to Dallas for the OU/TX Red River Rivalry game.  The first two pictures are from our annual dinner with friends on Friday night.  This year we ate at III Forks restaurant.  Joe and I like to take our picture with the indian statue outside the restaurant.

 

On the way to the Cotton Bowl Saturday morning we saw this car. We couldn't tell if it was a picture of Jesus or a rock singer or ?????

 

The bus loads of players coming into the fairgrounds and to the stadium.

 

Pre-game show with the Texas band and their flag, which they unfurl at our end of the stadium.

 

Our band and state flag, which we pay back with unfurling at their end of the stadium.

 

We got together with Kristen and Pat for a little while after the game.

Joe and I enjoying a beer after the game.

 

Kristen and Pat met up with her girlfriends and we took a picture for them.  I made Kristen's skirt.

 

A partial family picture.

Saturday night, Joe and I went out with Joe's mom and her husband, Johnny and Kathy (Chris' sister and she is 6 days older than me) and her husband John.  We went to dinner at Mercy Wine Bar.

Here is a pre-game picture of Kaitlyn and her friends.  This is the dress I made for Kaitlyn to wear.

Another pre-game picture with Joe's family.

Muzzy and Kaitlyn.

Me and Kaitlyn showing off our boots.

Pre-game scoreboard.

 

John and Kathy at Pete's Dueling Pianos Bar (and you sing along loudly while they play).

Joe clowning around with his mother at the Pete's Dueling Pianos Bar.