Getting My Mojo Back!

Made a pan of Blondies today! Fabulous!


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What's Up!

Hello friends~ I've been missing for awhile here in blog land.  It's been quiet and relaxing on the home front.
Just enjoying the calm after the Christmas hub bub.  This year I just was not in the spirit.  I hardly baked, I didn't want all the festivities, I didn't want all the work!  I was pretty shut down.  It's behind us now and looking forward to moving on!

New Years Eve will be spent in the quietness and charm of home.  It has become a tradition.  The hubby meets his brothers in the afternoon at STAN'S for a toast (or two) to the new year.  He is home early.  We celebrate with a candlelight dinner.

 

Nice steak on the grill, crab legs, salad, and baked potatoe

and

my new favorite

Barefoot Bubbly

We talk about the year that has passed, the new year  looking forward and then it's to bed fairly early.  Can't remember the last time we saw the ball drop at midnight!

For us, it's the perfect way to end the new year and begin anew!

New Years Day, if the weather is clear, we will head down to Portage to see our little bundle of happiness.

She will be down there celebrating Christmas and New Years with the Grandparents!

Wishing all of you, my faithful followers, love, peace, good health and happiness in 2012.  Be safe on New Years!  What are your plans for celebrating the new year?

Love - Babs~

Christmas 2012

This is where I want to be.



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Merry Christmas

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The Best Christmas Gift of All!

My little sweetie pie! Six months old tomorrow!




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Sums it up!

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Winter Sow

I could handle this look right now!




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Lovely Creation

My friend, Lynne, stopped over to deliver this lovely Christmas arrangement for me.

The mercury glass container is awesome.  The greens and berries are from her  yard.  The pine cones in the arrangement came from the state park at Lake Michigan.

A dear, dear friend indeed!  We've renewed and rekindled our friendship this year.  Hurts have been healed.
Such a wonderful blessing for me!

Christmas Cookies

Every Saturday, we have coffee and donuts at my Mom's house.  Today, we mixed it up a bit and had coffee at Maggie's.  After coffee, we started in on some holiday baking. 

From this to this.....

An all time favorite....Pecan Balls

We all were in on the fun.  Don, Phil and Mom unwrapping 48 kisses for the Peanut Butter Blosoms.

Lucy was there to help also!

Grandma had fun rolling cookies in sugar.

It's amazing how much we got done with all these helping hands.  We left Maggie on her own and what did she do?  Made another batch of Pecan Balls and left out the flour!  She needs us around.

Richie was happy he was home working on the camper, Lila Jane!

How is your baking coming along?

Love, Babs

Take A Moment

Please....Take a moment from the holiday pressure and soak in some relaxation and reflection.




A fire, warm blankets and wine!

Photo courtesy of greenlikebathwater.

Christmas Dance

My nephew Jacob attended Mona Shores Christmas Dance last week. He was excited when he was telling me about his red bow tie. He said he would be the only one wearing one, but he didn't care. He thought it was neat. Way to go Jake.... I applaud you for being your own person!

Rare Evening

How often in mid-December, in Michigan....can you sit outside and enjoy a campfire?

Last evening, Maggie, Don, Richie and me sat outside for three hours enjoying the greatest campfire and a few martinis. WOW, it was awesome and so relaxing.



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Farewell

Today we will bid farewell to our dear Carl.  We will gather at the cemetery to lay his ashes to rest.

This picture was such a favorite for Carl.  He thought it was the greatest picture ever taken.

May the road rise to meet you

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face

And the rains fall soft upon your fields

Until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

We'll miss you Carl!

Thank you for adoring our Mother!

Most Pleasant Surprise

My brother Mike called this afternoon and asked us if we could meet him for dinner this evening. Catch is, he lives in Orlando, and he we are in Michigan. Come to find out, he was flying into Grand Rapids at 5:30 pm. He will be here just for the night and heading to see a fraternity brother tomorrow in Northern Ohio who is very ill.

Anyway, Mike wanted to see our Mother and give her a hug. She's been through a lot this past week. Richard, Mother and I drove to GR and picked up Mike at the airport and went to Longhorn Steakhouse for a nice dinner.
Our visit was short but oh so sweet! Great seeing you Mike. Thanks again for dinner!



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Holiday Cheer

Tonight, I will be ringing in the holidays with two very good friends, Lynne and Kathy.  Lynne will be hosting us at her home.  Lynne's home is so warm and cozy.  She has fabulous taste and will have all her holiday finest touches scattered throughout her house.

This is perfect timing for me....I need to totally relax and visit and I have to get into the holiday spirit.

Cheers!

First of Many

Carmel Cashew Clusters. My first batch of Christmas goodies. I saw this recipe on Pinterest and it spoke to me. Yum.Yum. And pretty darn easy.




Just the first of many. Gotta get my Christmas spirit going!

RIP Carl Lund

January 20, 1921 - December 5, 2011
We will miss you Carl. The love that you had for our mother was remarkable. You adored her and filled her days with great companionship. You touched our lives Carl! May you continue to smile upon us!

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Steps

I haven't talk much about these two lovelies on my blog!




Meet my step nieces, Staci and Sarah. Aren't they adorable?   Staci and Sarah live in Florida so I don't see them often. Their Mom, Marlene, is my brother Mike's love!

Staci and Sarah blend so nicely into our family. They are fun loving, easy to be around, curious, and so very kind hearted. They are just as sweet as they can be.  They in turn, love our family and love being part of us and our family activites. They love Michigan! They have so much fun with my nephews, Mike's boys. Never a dull moment when all five of them are together.





I'm excited to see them again this winter when we visit.