Temptation

Spot views our tree as a constant source of temptation. There is no tinsel left on the bottom third of the tree, as she can't leave it alone. I understand how she feels. Holiday time seems to bring a temptation for me, as well. Every year I am tempted to scale back what we do, but I can't bring myself to do it. I love the giving part, the finding of the perfect present, the anticipation of the opening of said gifts. I love the baking of cookies and other goodies. I love trying new recipes and sharing the results. I love the decorating. I love sending and receiving cards. Sure I gain a little weight, get writers cramp and a bit higher electric bill, but January comes quickly and life goes back to normal. We turn off the tv, turn on the holiday music, eat some cookies and get lost in conversation as we bask in the glow of the tree lights. It's good not to give into temptation, isn't it?

I have been catching a lot of flak for my last post. All of the writing classes I took, back in the dark ages, told me that the first thing on a list wasn't as important as the last thing. That's so the reader is left with that as the final thought. So to you family members that who have so lovingly given me grief over listing my husband/your father as the last N on my list here are some raspberries, both from me and from the pipecleaner lizard found in your tree.

I requested a letter from Kay at Prairie Quilts & Kolaches for this meme. She assigned me the letter letter is "N" for St. Nicholas. It was his Holy Day when she assigned it to me. I am supposed to list 10 things I LOVE that begin with the letter assigned.

1. Nativity Scenes

2. Nikon Cameras (it's bad, we have 3 of them)

3. Nightfall, especially when we are siting in the treehouse in the summer.

4. Nieces

5. Nephews

6. Navel Oranges

7. Nutcrackers

8. Bird Nests

9. Nature in all her seasons

10. The most important, my husband, Nestor.

If you want to do add this to your blog, leave a comment and ask for a letter. It's a lot of fun, if you want to try it.

Public Service Announcement

Thanks Barb for the Heads up on this!

Want some FREE Christmas tunes? Amazon has one each day for the whole month.

Have You Ever?
Just for grins and giggles.
Copy this list and put it on your blog.
If you've done it, bold it.
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland (and DisneyWorld!)
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied--most of the time
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelos David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check (not that I'm proud of it, but I have)
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

I'm Alive

Whew! It's been more than a week since I've been here. We had Thanksgiving, then the wild after Thanksgiving shopping mess, and I've got one of those cold/flu bugs. It's bad when I go days without even wanting to look at the computer. I'll be back to my normal soon, I hope. I'll catch up with everything then. Hugs to all, Sharon