Thursday News- Holiday Times

It has been an emotional few weeks for us. However we are doing better now. The election is over, decisions have been made in my family and I think I am doing better with the upcoming changes.

It is now time to get ready for the holidays. Decorating and cooking are on top of my list. I also have a few gifts to make. We have a new Baby in the family on the way and I am looking forward to Meeting him. Thanksgiving is the holiday I am preparing for now.

Going to get my Dad and looking forward to having him with us. I wish he would live closer. However I love the time I have with him. We will be having my daughter back from college for the holiday. Loving that! Then we are going to have Critter and his family with us. Oh I am so excited about all of this. Even though, I am cooking the time will be great with them.

 I will be sharing the recipes on my Kitchen Blog and family moments on this one. The Review blog will have some new additions. And I will be sharing the healthier side of things on the Living Healthy with Auntie E site. For those following my garden blog.. we will be sharing the yard decorations. I will still be blogging in my  Health Journal , although that one is like a diary of my weight journey. So I think the time is back to blogging. As the time becomes colder and the winter storms are great, Blogging will be my outlet.

So, Hope you will be able to stop by and sit awhile, Let's share  our Holiday and Winter times.

WW- Crazy Candle Caper.

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WW- Family Fun

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There are only Three of us in my immediate family...But we know how to have fun!

Monday News.Festive Time

We enjoyed a Festive time this past week. Going back to Wednesday with the trip to Dads home. The drive was quite nice. Traffic was down so we made great time. Getting there for breakfast. It is also nice to see and visit Dad. We live over 250 miles apart so, it isn't a daily thing. Mom has been gone for about four years now. I really miss her. So, I try to see Dad as much as I can.

This year for Thanksgiving ,we decided to go out to a Banquet. We went to the Oceanfront Hilton, In Virginia Beach. It was very nice. Live music and traditional food. Dad, My Baby Brother( now 50!) joined us. After the banquet we took a walk on the boardwalk. I loved the fire pits at the hotel. the weather temp was around the lower 60's.

We went back to the house and visited with my brother a while. Later we played Monopoly, dad won!

On Friday Hubby and Daughter went out to do some Black friday shopping. As for me I will not do that. Dad and I worked on putting his New Telly in place and setting it up to the sound system. that took all day. I cooked a turkey dinner, using a small turkey breast roll. Had made a pumpkin pie on Thursday. We enjoyed a meal and then watched some TV.

Saturday was a lazy day for some of the family. As for me....I made breakfast, a turkey and swiss quiche . Did some cleaning for Dad. Cleared out the Freezer from the last years meals. Washed the freezer and now Dad is set for a while. Daughter and I went to the Lynhaven Mall, got to see santa dancing to a light display. I really liked that. Then he jingled his bells and wished every one a Merry Christmas. Later that night we headed out to Christmas Town, in Williamsburg. I really love that display, it gets me in the Holiday mood. Here is a Blue Monday photo post of one of the lights attractions.

We walk through villages all decorated with lights, Holiday music playing and the smells of the holidays. Each town has the theme and countries tones and feelings. It was even snowing in the North pole and french section! This was the second year for this event. I hope they keep doing it for this could become a tradition for us.

Now it is time for holiday decoration in our home. I am planning a Holiday party so, that means decorating the yard and home.

How was your weekend? Did you do anything Special with the Family?

Sunday we headed back to Maryland . Traffic was good we made it in old record time!

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I add this post to Blue Monday this week, you can see more Blue Photos at Smiling Sally

Monday News.. An Excursion

Saturday we had a excursion to the Amish country. I really enjoyed it. First we went to the Wine shop in Manheim. I love the wines there. Every year at Christmas the smell hot warmed holiday wine reminds me of our Germany years. Drinking a cup a Gluhwine by a roaring fire is a great feeling. Mount Hope Winery make a great Holiday wine. You just heat it up and enjoy! I tasted a couple new ones. The honey wine and pear wine were very good.

After the wine stop we went to Jake's Country Trading Post in Gordonville,Pa. We had purchased a rocker a few years back and needed to get a replacement part for the glider. While there we did some shopping. Found these battery candles perfect for the holiday deer. I think they will look great and no flames to worry about. My daughter found a purse.

We continued on to eat at Miller's Smorgasbord in Ronks. Their food is so good and the pies are out of this world. I had a piece of Oatmeal Pie, it had coconut in it. I really need to find out how to make that one. However Dad and I are the only ones who like coconut. I could make it for the holidays.

Daughter wanted to shop at the Kitchen Kettle Village in Intercourse Pa. I really like that place. purchase a ledge Santa and some instant snow. we will have a blast seeing the kids touching the snow in the villages. While there we had to enter the Kitchen Kettle shop. I believe they do not have anything that does not taste good. I heard a lady said that in the store. Oh yes. I didn't get out of there cheep! Some Christmas gift and some thing for us. Bought a new product for me, Orange Curd. Think of making a Orange Chicken dish with it.

We closed down the shop and headed back through the Amish country. Love seeing the folks preparing the soil for next year. Horse drawn spreaders and old trackers in the fields. We saw a few buggies on the road, however most folks where in the fields. It was a very nice days Excursion for me and my family.

Sunday was a lazy day. I did manage to get some lights up for the holiday time approaching as well as the trees in the planters on the front porch. Is is that time to start thinking holidays, Love this time of the year.

Monday News..Family and Fun!

This past weekend we spent time at the Fair and had fun with the family. We took photos of the fun times. So here it goes, take a look at our crazy weekend.

On Saturday we took a trip to Crownsville Maryland for the Renaissance Fair. I love this time of year, the weather is just right and going to fairs are on my favorite trips list. This year a went in Costume and had my hair braided. I was looking forward to getting a honey for my Coffee. Been trying to find a good sweetener for it. The folks really dress up for the Maryland one, as you will see. Anything goes there, one can be transported back to that time and if you stay long enough one will start speaking in the accent and language.






On Sunday after church we went to my niece Birthday party. It was a skating party. Yes I went skating. It has been years since I did this sport. Fell a few times, however I did do better than I thought. the kids enjoyed a glow light party with pizza and cake.

So how was your weekend?

Be sure to visit Writer Cramps to see more Monday's Miss Marple. You never know when you need that Alibi!
I add this post to Blue Monday this week, you can see more Blue Photos at Smiling Sally

WW- Photo Journey of Summer

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A continuous photo look at our summer ....

Above, Family and friends at Water Country USA
Below, the Wave pool....

The Summer time night sky

Our cool pool for the high heat days!

Our Blueberry Breakfast Bake
for recipe see side bar, Auntie E's Kitchen

Monday News..A Couple Busy Weekends.

Well I should say that my household has been on the move!! For the 4th of July weekend it was off to Chesapeake, Virginia. We left on Saturday. The drive was long and we even went the back route. It seems with the new GPS map system, folks have forgotten about the back routes. I learned how to read a map in the 1970's. thank god I did! This is one thing I should teach my daughter,now that she is learning to drive. After standing in traffic for about 30 minutes, we pulled out the atlas and found a different way. Oh yes I had to turn off the GPS, our guide kept trying to turn us around. She would be constantly saying... turn right, turn left turn right..., turning us around. We just would say, do not pay attention to that Lady in the box,hehehe. I turned it to map mode to stoop the talking directions.

We stopped at Shoneys in Tappahannock to eat. My phone rang and it showed my Granny was calling. You remember her, 93 years old still living. Yes She has a Cell phone. It was however my Grandpa, he is in his late 80's, he wanted to know where we were. He wanted us to help repair his computer when we arrived. Now those are some mod grandparent! That's must be how you stay young forever!

The weekend was a very busy one. Once we arrived, we took dad out to dinner at Texas Road House. Then off to see a movie. we saw "Mr Poppers Penguins". I really enjoyed that show. I wonder how they got those many penguins to act like that. that is one DVD we will have to get.

On Sunday we went to the Water park. there we hooked up with Critter and the family. What a fun day! Critter now 7, kept me hopping. We played in the wave pool, and walked to the Huba Huba Highway. The latter is a moving current river.

Critter loved that one. after a long day there. We headed be to Dads.

Monday the 4 of July we went to Williamsburg to enjoy a great dinner and shop to old town. Later we met up with Critters family and waited to watch the fireworks. However it was rain out. A big thunder storm came through. We all sat in the van and talked. we did have a great time even with out fireworks.
So I will post one from our Pennsylvania trip.


Last weekend we worked out in the yard. Swam in the pool and just hung out. the weather here has been rainy and hot. Our pool has been filled by Mother Nature. We have some white frogs that live up by the pool. Yesterday we saw where they are living. Very interesting Frogs.
My theory is that they are being bleached my the pool chemicals. However my daughter did some research and found out they are indigenous to the area.




We also watched a 3D movie on our New TV. It was called "Yogi Bear" . I remember as a child watching yogi and boo-boo on the TV. Loved that show. The movie was great and we loved the 3D view.

So how was your weekend?

Be sure to visit Writer Cramps to see more Monday's Miss Marple. You never know when you need that Alibi!
I add this post to Blue Monday this week, you can see more Blue Photos at Smiling Sally Smiling Sally is in the hospital recovering from surgery. I wish her well and pray she return soon to her blogging and home. Her granddaughter are posting Blue Mondays for her and keeping us updated.

WW....Fun in the snow!

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Last weekend Critter went to the mountains to snowboard. He is growing up so fast!

WW- Critters Birthday Fun

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at SuperMom .

Critters Birthday was on Superbowl Sunday. That made it not a great day to celebrate with his friends. So last weekend he got to have a big party at "Pump It UP". It was a Glow Party. The lights were off and we all wore glow jewelry. Black lights were on. Here are some of the highlights.

One of the big slides

Hubby got in on the fun also...

Love this one...
the little Blue Man...

King of the party. Critter

Now a couple videos. of the Glow Party.