Big "D", part deux.

Thanks for stopping by to see more
about our little mini-trip to Dallas.
(continued from yesterday's post )

Got these stores where you live?

Dallas does!

"In & Out" Burgers.
Sooooooo good!!
I promise I didn't eat all 3 myself!

Napkins in a gift store - LOL!

We ate some great BBQ at
"Red, Hot, and Blue".
This was one of their signs.

Great names on these BBQ sauces:
MoJo Mild
Hoochie Coochie

Double Trouble
Suffering Sweet
*Which name most fits Y-O-U?*

Went to see this one-woman play,
"A Kodochrome Christmas".
at the Eiseman Theater.
Funny!

Sunday we put on our walking shoes and shopped
till we were completely
shopped O-U-T!!

"Home again.
Home again.
Jiggety Jig!"

The Big "D"!

Last weekend was Mister's belated b-day trip

to "The Big D" - Dallas.  

It was a "Need to Know" themed weekend

so he had no idea what we had planned

until it was time to drive there by putting the

address into the Garmin.

Saturday was sunny, brisk, cold and be-U-ti-ful!

We spent a good long while at the

Dallas Arboretum.

Who knew there was so-much-pretty

to be seen this time of year!

*Some Friends we met along our way!*

This little Christmas "friend" was in the Gift Shop.

*Tomorrow*

some of the other things

we saw & did

on our weekend away.

Just Hangin'. . .

. . .with some of my favorite guys.

Don't tell the others,

but my favorite is the big, burly,

Fire Fighter in the middle. 

I love me a man in uniform. 

Who's your favorite?

I've been given "the bird"!

There are birds.

And there are BIRDS!!

This is the McMansion Summer home that a bird

built in my venting.

It cost me $80 to have a Chimney Sweep

clear my "on the top of the house"

dryer vent and install a screen over it.

He tells me birds that do this

(can't remember the type he named)

are migrating birds.  They have left for the

winter but will return each Spring.

He tells me once they nest,

they come again & again & again. . .

"Birdie, Birdie, fly far, far away.
Mama's got no more money
to spend on you today"

by SWEET TEA

Our bedroom Before/After

While "this is the season" and everyone is sharing beautiful Christmas decor we have finished our bedroom redo and I'm just BUSTIN' to show you, even if it's not Christmas related.  Yep, still marching to a different drum.  (pa-rumpa-pum-pum) *smile  OH! OH!  Also, my 250th Follower signed on yesterday and that made me so happy!  Thank you, Girls (and guys) for doing life with me in Bloggyland.  I do enjoy you so much!!  Now, on to our bedroom redo!!

*BEFORE*

*AFTER*

I am still looking for bedside lamps.

The bedskirt matches the khaki shams

(the color got lost in the camera flash)

I love having a sofa in here.

I use this area even more than I thought I would.

See me in the mirror?

Oops!

I wish you could see the wreaths

in the windows.

I am pleased with how it all came together.

I love these wreaths that hang in each of

the windows flanking the bed.

Thank you Pinterest for this idea!

This Armoirre holds the TV.

It also semi-hides the coat rack

from view from the hall.

Mister could not do without

this coat rack. (whatever.)

So glad this is finished.

I can mark this project off my list now!

Yippee!!

Undercover at the Nutcracker.

Self photo of me and Princess.

(right up our nose)

A peek into the Orchestra pit.

These people did a beautiful job.

Too bad we couldn't "officially" see them.

The stage set.

Toy Soldiers.

The beauty of the ballet.

I tried to be discreet with my camera,

but a Blogger must record the moment

even when, no, especially when

there are sugar-plum fairies

dancing about.

* * * * * * * * * *

I've been thinking about being a ballerina
when I go to Heaven,
but decided I am more of the
tap-dancing type.
You?

Answers to Questions You Never Asked.

I just heard something which could enable so many people to have a more joyous Christmas.  I understand the idea is not for everyone, BUT it could help many people.  Lots of families, especially young families with multiple children, have a hard time during the holiday season.  What do you buy for the children?  How much do you buy?  When have you bought enough?  When is it too much?  Do we load the credit card and worry about it later or do we stay on budget?  I remember these times within my own family.

Today my children are grown, except for our youngest, who is 17.  I'm thankful we don't have the financial restraints of many young families.  Still, there is the temptation to over-buy and "spoil" (I don't like that word, but couldn't think of a better one) our daughter and our granddolls. . . A friend passed along an idea she heard on the radio and I thought it was GREAT!

"Four for Christmas"1. 
1.  Something you want.
2.  Something you need.
3.  Something to wear.
4.   Something to read.

I think whoever came up with this idea is BRILLIANT!!

I wish I had heard about this before I had shopped for Princess.  I soooooo want to do this!  (It would be great for birthdays too).

I know that many of my Bloggy friends don't have small children, so this is not an issue, but let me encourage you to share the "Four for Christmas" thought with anyone you know who is having a hard time balancing money and/or shopping time.  I'm sure we won't be hearing about this on TV as stores want our business, but it's a thought that needs to be heard.  It would sure take the pressure off many people if this became a trend.  Just sayin . . .

Also, if you'd like some great ideas for your children or your grandkids go HERE (it's a little lengthy but if you look toward the end of the post you'll find fun ideas to help keep CHRIST in Christmas with the kids in your life (and they're broken into age groups!).

Who says "you can't teach an old dog new tricks"?  I find my heart is changing in the way I choose to celebrate Christmas.  I long for the "inner joy" that comes from truly experiencing Christmas.  I want to feel it, smell it, touch it. and live it - not be so tired from doing all the "gotta do's" that I can't really enjoy the season.  I'm trying some new things this year. 

Life IS a journey, isn't it?

Have you heard of "Four for Christmas" before?
Got any tips you'd care to share?

Stingy Saturdays

Mister and I seldom plan anything we "have to do" on Saturdays.  We are stingy with our Saturdays and consider it family time; only ocassionally does something come up that we will commit to.  Last Saturday was one of those times.  We went to see a hard-working, nice, young man be honored as an Eagle Scout.  He has been dating Princess for a year or so and we have become well acquainted with him.  It was a pleasure to see him reach this goal in his life.

Congratulations Russell!

Mister brags that he works with

FOUR Eagle Scouts.

We both brag that our nephew

is an Eagle Scout.

Do you know any Eagle Scouts?

In a Pickle/OOPS!

You can find today's post  HERE.
Sorry for the inconvenience.

In a Pickle

Yes.I.Did.

I went shopping and ended up

"in a pickle".

Mister and I went shopping.

Remember when I mentioned it HERE ?

We shopped with a plan.

He dropped me off at Hobby Lobby

while he went to the bookstore.

I was to call him when I wanted

to be picked up.
That was the plan.

I LOVE Hobby Lobby.

I shopped from one end of the

store to the next. 

So much "eye candy" to enjoy!

I don't know how long I was in the

store - let's just say I was "focused".

Finally I had my finds in my buggie

and headed for the check-out lane.

While waiting in line I tried to

phone Mister to tell him

I was ready for "pick up".

Alas! 

My phone was dead.

It would not call.

It would not text.

It was "Day-ed",  

as we say in the south.

Woe is me. I was stranded.
and

 "in a pickle"

and

not too happy about it.

Thank You,
to the nice young lady
who let me use her phone
to make "the" call,
otherwise I'd probably be
blogging from ye ol' Hobby Lobby
at this very moment.

Does size matter?

We lived in a small house when I was

growing up.  Each year we had a 

Christmas tree placed on a table

in the corner of our living room.

It was a thing of beauty with all

the bobbles, tinsel and lights.

It was not until I married Mister

that I was indoctrinated into

the B.I.B. (Bigger is Better)

school of thought.

So we had a BIG TREE

for many, many years.

HOWEVER . . .

this year I questioned the B.I.B theory.

And we are rockin' a

small tree.

(this Christmas Slacker

couldn't be happier)

Less tree means more room

for all the gifts that Santa

brings to "good girls"

like me and you!

Ketchup Time.

Nope.  Not this kind of Ketchup. . .

This kind of "Catch-up".

(and since we're online we all

soooooo look like this!)

Many of you left comments about the

Butterfinger pie.  I've posted the un-recipe below.

It is more of a "method" than a recipe,

and the only thing you need to remember

is to work quickly once you begin

and not to over-fill the crust.

Enjoy!

Butterfinger Ice Cream Pie

Oreo Cookie Pie Crust (store-bought)

1 qt.  vanilla ice cream, softened

3.5 oz Butterfinger candy, crushed

I put the candy in the Food Processor

and pulse it a couple of times, but

you could simply put it in a Baggie

and pound with a hammer - just go easy,

as you still want some small chunks to remain.

Mix the candy with the softened ice cream.

Scoop this into the chocolate Oreo crust.

QUICKLY put it into the freezer to set.

Lick the bowl, the spoon,

and your fingers - you know you

want to!!

*Serve, drizzled with Hot Fudge topping.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Boudxy was glad to see us when we picked

him up at the Vet's.  He is feeling good.

We are to take him to the Vet's tomorrow

to get his stitches removed.

(I've never had a dog who had stitches

to be removed after being neutered.

Hmmm.)

* * * * * * * * * * * *

The bad part about going to someone else's

house for Thanksgiving is not having any

left-overs.

The good part about going to someone else's

house for Thanksgiving is not having any

left-overs.

Know what I mean?

* * * * * * * * * * *

Now that all the family birthdays have been

properly celebrated, I'm rollin' towards

Christmas.  Granted, I'm rolling slowly,

but I'll get there.  You gals' that have

December family birthdays to prepare

for are remarkable.  I don't know how

you do birthdays and Christmas all

"smooshed" together.