Have a wonderful and Safe New Year
Sweet Friends!!
Remember... Please don't drink and drive!!
Call a friend, take a taxi, take a bus, use the train, or even stay over ;)
See you next year :O)

Not to forget my Auzzie Friends :)

Santa is Dropping Packages Early ;)

Surprise Surprise there are packages under my little tree.. Thanks to several wonderful people.. I am having an awesome Christmas... My friend Nadine in Wa.. started out Mine and the Pitty's Holiday with an awesome package from Omaha Steaks. Yes.... I got steaks and Pitty got bones made with real meat :) Now all I need is that new George Forman Grill. My other one died last year. I guess you could say it got a TKO... technical knock out :) I had two really good looking rib eyes to cook.. my mouth was just watering thinking about those, and how yummy they would taste. I pan fried them and they were awful! I have been putting off purchasing a Forman because they have really went up in price.
Even the small ones are around 50 dollars now... OUCH!!!

I can really tell its getting close to Christmas.. You ask why???? Well because......

I started receiving gift boxes from everywhere..
They were mostly from family ;) I received a huge crate of fruit from my Aunt in FL. I have received two gift sets of Cheese and Summer Sausages from Hickory Farms, and a crate of my favorite Grape Apple Cider from my other Aunt in CA.
I've gotten the best surprise ever....
I received wrapped packages in the mail......
Yeah JUMPS UP AND DOWN!!!!
I have awesome Packages to open on Christmas Day!!!
You heard me right... I will wait until Christmas Day, with no peeking either!
I know it might be hard for some, to keep their little hands off the packages... but I don't touch until Christmas Day. Heck that's only 4 days away :)
LOL :O}}
I don't think I have the heart of the Grinch anymore.
I think it has swelled up with so much love that has been shared :)
I have to explain the photo to all of you :) The little dark blue package with Angels is a fabric gift bag made by Nadine from Tx. She has included several packages of Hot Cocoa :) I just love Cocoa.. yummy ;) Nadine is the sweet lady that I did the Christmas tote bag trade with off of Pins and Needles.
The fun blue penguin packages are for Me and the Pitty and they are from one of our great blogging friends.. Janet from FL. Both ladies have indicated that I am a giving, sharing and caring person.. LOL do I have them snowed :) I am just amazed that you ladies think so much of me.. I know I Cherish all of the great friends that I have been making through my blog. Lastly I received an email from Awtemnymf to keep and eye out.. something coming from Ca :) I have to say I think I have already had my Christmas with all of these wonderful gifts from such sweet people :) Having each of you...think enough of me to send well wishes and other special gifts really really make me very humble and want to strive to do better in the up coming year. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your sweet kindness ;) Yes it is so very very sweet to received all of these fun Packages. So my poor poor tree will not be bare Christmas day :) I am truly been blessed this year from all the awesome Blogging friends that I have made and I hope will continue to make through out the up coming years. I look forward to more Holiday fun between now and the end of this year. :) Once again.. thank you for your thoughtful gifts and thinking enough of me to call me a friend :)
I know I am really gushing and all weepy here.. but I am truly Bless..
THANK YOU!!

Annie's Holiday Day Out

Before this story begins.. I want to thank everyone for all of their wonderful comments.. for all my Holiday posts.. LOL I have been so busy I have forgotten who I have thanked and whom I haven't.. So here is a public Announcement..
" Thank you everyone for your wonderful fun comments..
and also sharing your holiday gifts of love with each of us"

I had to be gone from home a lot of hours yesterday.. first I had to work and then go to the families annual Christmas dinner and party :) I know the Pitty didn't get to go.. poor poor girl :( It's Step Monsters Family Holiday gathering for the entire family. So I didn't want to push my luck with my immediate family taking her to the gathering.... I have to tell you right off ... I love my step mom!!!!! I have called her step monster for years.. I was very very young when she came into my life.. and as any young child.. I had a chip on my shoulder having to behave more ;) She has taught me so many wonderful things in my life and I am very thankful for her presence in it :) I love her to pieces and I would be so heart broken if she wasn't able to remain a very big part in my life. I don't know what I would do without her.. she has been my rock on my dads side of the family.. There are only 4 of us in Dad's family. Dad, Step Monster, Bubba and Me... so you see she is a very important figure in my life. She is a person that I always strive to be. I can not think of any person that can beat her in grace, manners, and genuine love. She has other talents but that list is too long for this post right now ;).. I am most thankful for her gentle hand and guidance ;) She has tried to teach me to be a better human each day :)
I love you my Sweet Step Monster ;)

Now on with the story :)

Annie asked if she could go to work with me today and do that Mother... daughter at work thing today. I told her yes she could come along and then she could go to the Christmas party with me tonight. I had to keep looking around for Annie today at work. She was where I could see her one minute and the next she was gone. I kept finding her in the strangest places.. look here she is in the Patrol Station Christmas tree ;) Now how in the world did she get there the little Imp???

I finally have her corralled and now she wants to answer the phones.. and was that a mess..she got all tangled up in the phone cords and of course once again I had to come to her rescue! Besides she kept making phone calls to 911 and hanging up... then the dispatcher kept calling wanting to know if everything was ok.. well I had to have a talk with that little lady and tell her that is not the proper use for 911. She had to sit in time out after that!!

Yeah!!!!! Work is over and here we are at the party. See Annie hiding among all the White elephant gifts. The gift exchange is always fun. :) You get to pick a folded piece of paper with a number on it when your number is called you either get to steal a prior gift or pick one off the table. The gifts can be stolen twice then it has to remain with the third person. This gift exchange game gets very lively and fun :) Annie told me she wanted me to steal a package.. so we ended up with hammers and tools for the Ranch :) In fact its the tall package right behind her ;)

APP was thirsty so we stopped by the refreshment table and APP got??? Yes that's right a Pepsi :) Can you see all of those yummy looking sweet treats.. this photo was early.. this table was loaded with treats before we ate dinner ;) I got there pretty early, others were still coming ;)

Here's Annie in the kitchen.. she wanted to help but she was afraid she would get her pretty party dress messed up when it was time to wash the dishes ;) Annie did decide to stay out of the way .. it was like a stampede in that kitchen so much activity going on...

Awe isn't this sweet .....Annie getting a Christmas hug??

Ok Ladies.... do you see this naughty girl trying to steal APP's Chocolate fudge??? She is such a bad little Imp :) See that little white round looking thing in the middle of the plate??? Well they called it Reindeer Poop. Now let me tell you it was wonderful and yummy. Its very simple to make.. let me tell you how.. but I warn you its rich!!
How to make Reindeer Poop
Take one bag of Oreos.. crunch up in food processor..
Add in a package of Cream Cheese to crunched up cookies. Roll into balls and dip into white Chocolate bark...
Easy Peasy and every one will love them.. these poops were gone fast....
Santa couldn't put his finger beside his nose as quickly as they went!!!
Of course I have to lastly mention.... I love cut out sugar cookies and Step Monsters Sister makes the best ones that I have ever eaten.. they are to die for. On the sugar cookie scale 1-100 they are 1000 :) Yes they are that good... I was a lucky girl and she sent a couple of them home with me ;) Yeah!!!
Yes ladies I was a piggy wiggy..
I ate all of those tasty goodies on my plate..
Didn't your mom teach you to always clean your plate????

LOL I bet your getting tired of Annie Stories..
Christmas will be over soon.. and it will be back to what my normal is ;)
I am having fun playing along with Awtemnymf's Annie blog challenge :)

An Evening of Giving ;)

I had the worst day at work today... the girl that takes my place at night was late and the office was a mad house. I was ready to get out of that place and how!! But I stayed and worked until she arrived. I had some very important plans after work .. I didn't want to be late doing them either. I had to rush home and get the Pitty. I was going to be gone most of the night and I didn't want her home by herself :) Because I loves her so.. and I miss her when I am at work :( She had to stay home while Annie and I went shopping on Tuesday, because we went into shops the Pitty wasn't allowed in. Tisk tisk tisk they served food in some of them. I was concerned with leaving her in the Auto.. for fear someone would breakout the glass and steal her!! So she had to stay home where it was safe... but tonight she was allowed to go :) Thanks for asking why she wasn't along on the shopping trip with Annie ;) I am very careful with the safety of my little Princess :) I would hate for anything to happen to her.. I would just pine away.. as I am sure she would too!! If for some reason we lost each other!

Here is Pitty with Annie in her booster seat.. see Annie waving :) Pitty wasn't too sure about sharing her seat with Annie.. its like this is my seat and why are you in it??? Look at that sour look on Pitty's face. Pitty is trying to see what Annie was up too :) I was a good Mommie and moved Annie so the Pitty could set back and enjoy her ride in the auto :) Because we were going to be putting a lot of miles on the little farm truck.

LOoky LoOky at what Annie is doing :) Annie is spending the evening with me and the Pitty delivering turkeys to those that have fallen on hard times :) We drove all over town giving away 10 of these yummy turkeys. Everyone was very surprised and very happy to get them :) Pitty helped me pick out who would get the Turkeys. They were mostly given to retired people and persons that were laid off in the area this year. Sometimes just a small gift like this can be the best gift. I stopped by a friends house....that I know is having hard times. When I handed him the turkey he was almost in tears. I was so happy to be that one little person to provide that tad bit of help to make someone Else's Holiday Special ;) Yes... Ladies just another thing to make my 10 times too small of heart swell.... with the joy of the season. :)

Annie and Me out for a Day of Shopping ;)

Awtemnymf has a fun Annie blog and she is holding a Christmas with Annie event. I thought I would play along and have Annie go Christmas Ornie shopping with me at some of my favorite Shops. I know I had fun shopping for Ornies I hope my sweet Annie did too :)

Here is Annie and me getting ready to leave the house, for our day out shopping. Doesn't she look excited with that huge smile on her face ;)

As some of you know or have seen on my blog..... I whacked off my hair. Well this is a shot of Annie and I dropping off my package to Locks of Love ;) Isn't this tote bag fun?? I did a Pvt swap with Nadine M from Pins and Needles. I just love it and I have received several compliments on it too ;)

Here is Annie hiding among all of the fun Santa's :)
I think Annie thought she could hide and not be seen ;)

Annie thought she would stop and rest awhile, during our
shopping spree. She wanted to take a look at all
of the wonderful fun Christmas trees.

Ok I don't know about you but I just love these strange colored poinsettias. I spoke to the man at the garden center and he told me that they spray paint them and add the glitter. I think they are fun and very festive. Annie looks very cute setting among them ;)

I went to a couple of other places like..... Annies Attic here in my small town and the girl at the counter would not let me take a photo.. I know if Ann had been there it would have been ok.. but I didn't have time to go back later in the day. Then I went into a candy shop ... they weren't to happy about me taking a photo either.... oh well there has to be more Grinch's around other than me this time of year ;)

Crunchy Caramel Reeses Cookie Bars

I don't know about you but these cookie bars look delicious!!!
If your interested in other yummy recipes just
click on the photo to run over to the Picky Palate ;)

Crunchy Caramel Reese's Cookie Bars

1 Roll Sugar Cookie Dough, Pillsbury (or use your favorite sugar cookie recipe)

1 Cup crushed pretzels

3 Cups mini Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, unwrapped

10 Kraft caramels, unwrapped

1 Tablespoon milk

1/2 Cup semi sweet chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven 350 degrees F. Line a 8×8 baking dish with foil and spray with cooking spray. Cut cookie dough roll in half and press half into bottom of baking dish. Layer with pretzels. Cut PB cups in half and layer over pretzels. Melt caramels and milk in a microwave safe bowl until melted, about 1-2 minutes in microwave. Pour caramel over PB cups. With remaining cookie dough, crumble evenly over top PB cups. Bake for 22-25 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through. Let cool completely. Melt chocolate chips in microwave until smooth, drizzle over top of bars.

Paging Dr Mc Dreamy

Hello Ladies.... I just got word that mom DOES NOT HAVE CANCER!!!! It is some sort of lung disease... that I can not pronounced. I am so thankful and happy to hear its not cancer.. Who cares if I can't pronounce what she has.. its not the big C. The damage that has been done to her only lung can not be
reversed but it can be kept under control with meds.
The doctor says she will gain more strength each day.
She might have to stay on oxygen.
She is not too happy about that.
I told her that its better than what we had expected,
and if the oxygen makes it easier for her to breath. Then its worth the trouble!
What a wonderful gift to get this Holiday Season!!
I want to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers
during my moms troubled times.
Each and everyone of you are the greatest :)

I am 5 lbs lighter ;)

Ladies I have to tell you today was a great day!!!

Here is what I did ;)

Yes !!! You guessed it.... I cut most of my hair off. I had thought about it for a while now and I just walked by this salon and asked my friend if she would hold my hand while I cut it off. She laughed and told me I better wait.. she was not to excited about me cutting off my hair. I don't think she thought I was serious about it. I don't think she has ever seen me with short hair. So we continued to shop and as we went by the hair salon on the way out she said are you going to go in and cut your hair??? Of course!!! I walk right in sat down. The young lady said to me how much do you want off? (Several of you saw how long my hair was....down to my waist. I posted a photo of it on the blog.) I told her shoulder level and she asked if I was sure .. I said its hair it grows out. I'm sure. She then asked if I wanted to donate my hair to locks of love. I said of course!! I then went on to explain to her its been almost 24 years since my last short hair cut, and locks of love was not around then and its a wonderful thing ;) I didn't realize that there was a length requirement. But I met that without any trouble. It was a fun time getting my hair cut.. the young lady wasn't really sure she wanted to cut that much off either... but I finally convinced her to do it. My friend bless her heart cried the whole time I was in the chair. She was shocked!! Not me .. I think its great.. I did another wonderful thing for someone else today :) So tomorrow after I wake up my donation will be in the mail on its way to help a child or adult in need :)

Self portrait not so hot...
Great hair cut.. not styled yet ;)