Cough, Cough

I've been battling a bit of a cold. Nothing major, but I hate the cough tht comes with the "drainage". I am not much of a medicine taker, but in the last week have tried a few different combinations with little result. Hubby reminded me that we still have some of "Grandma's Cough Drops" in the fridge. Woo Hoo! Coughing has stopped! This is a picture of them:
Ok, so why am I showing you a picture of marachino cherries? Oh, but they are not ordinary cherries!
A long time ago a friend of my Dad told him of their family holiday tradition of steeping cherries in vodka. Dad decided to try it, and put them to steep at Halloween. Christmas Day came and Dad offered them around, not telling what they were. My grandmother was skeptical, but took one anyway. She bit down, and started coughing from the ingestion of straight vodka. She called Dad some impolite names as we all laughed at her. Dad left the cherries on the table and we all enjoyed a few, but the best was Mom-Mom. She would do a polite ladies cough and decide that she needed another one! She was a bit tipsy by the end of that day!
Fast forward 20 years. The torch has been passed and now our son makes the cherries. This year he decided to try something different, Bacardi 151!!! Wooooo dogggggiiiieeee! These are potent!
My happiness today, is the remembering of the story and family traditions. Oh and yes, I feel much better. Hmmm, I feel another coughing fit coming on. I'd best go take my medicine.

Nothing Better!

I am the proudest of great Aunts. Our niece and nephew by marriage happily share pics of their little guy, The Robster. Is there anything cuter than a baby's butt?!! I LOVE this picture and I hope it makes you smile, too.

An opinion

I wish I could be as eloquent as my friend Terri. She is the author of a blog I enjoy greatly, http://www.xanga.com/pennyannpoundwise

I wanted to share with you something she wrote. I feel exactly as she does, and am so thankful for Terri allowing me to share it with you.

Opinionated Coffee Cup
Join me here with a cup of coffee while I air a few thoughts about the current hub bub.

All weekend long I've heard a copious amount of news, opinions, debates, chronicles and more about our incoming president. Almost every single one promotes the idea that the moment our new president is inaugurated, life as we know it will forever be sunshine, rainbows and bliss.

It's my opinion that an awful lot of people are going to be sadly and badly disappointed. And it's a darned shame!

Whether or not I voted for Obama is not at stake here. He is my president and I will pray daily for him to have wisdom and wise counsel in all he does. As a Southerner, who well remembers separate drinking fountains and desegregation and such, I am proud that as a nation we've made this vast step forward. But what we have to remember here is that if race doesn't matter, then we shouldn't be making such a huge fuss over his race. Let's make a big deal over his ideals instead. Let's make a big deal out of his party if we must, but for heaven's sake let's remember that he is a man: human, intelligent, with faults and virtues like any other.

I am concerned at the unrealistic views of those who are so vocal in the media. Because Obama is untried, inexperienced and new to the tasks at hand. He's going to have a thousand and ten new things to learn, as anyone who takes on a new job. He will struggle with making difficult and life altering decisions. He will make choices that are unpopular with his own party as well as to the opposing party.

He is a young man who will leave office as aged as any other before him. The job of the presidency takes a tremendous toll on the leaders who are chosen to fill that position. Take a look at any president's before and after photographs. The stress and strain of the position is visible in every grey hair, every line of their face.

He doesn't have a magic wand to wave and make all things as all people would wish them immediately. There will be choices that are heart wrenching for him. He will make great decisions and grave mistakes. There are problems to be solved that will take years to fix, and nothing will overnight be set right after the stroke of midnight on January 21.

Whether or nor he was your choice as president, let me urge each of you to pray for him daily while he is in office. He will need every prayer he can get! May God bless him and his family.

Today's joy

No, this isn't a recent picture. It's a few years old, but it's the picture I thought of when I read this quote:

"Home is any four walls that enclose the right person" -Helen Rowland

44 Question Meme

If you are reading this, consider yourself tagged to put it on your blog.

44 Question Meme
Taken from http://daycaredaze.wordpress.com/
1) Favorite object in your room? Antique vanity table that hubby refinished

2) Have you ever smoked a cigarette?Yes. Just once Yuck

3) Do you own guns?No.

4) What flavor drink do you get at sonic?Watermelon

5) Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? Yes

6) What do you think of hot dogs?Love them grilled

7) Favorite song?Right now? Toes by the Zac Brown Band.

8.) Can you do push ups? No

9) Can you do a chin up? Only by throwing my head back.

10) Favorite type of jewlery? Watches

11) Do you like blue cheese? Love it

12) Ever been in a car wreck? Yes

13) What’s one trait that you hate about yourself? weight

14) Middle name? Kimberly

15) Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment: I'm freezing, dinner was good and I need a cup of tea.

16) Name 3 things you bought yesterday. No shopping yesterday

17) Name 3 drinks you drink regularly ? Sweet tea, hot tea, wine

18.) Current worry? Will hubby get work soon

19) Current hate right now?My weight.

20) How did you bring in the New Year? Set the alarm to wake up to see the year end.

21) Where would you like to be right now? Any warm Pacific island will do

22) Name three people who will complete this?No. Idea.

23) Do you own slippers? Yes.

24) What shirt are you wearing? Pink sweatshirt

25) Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? No. They make funky skritchy noises

26) Can you whistle? No

27) Would you be a pirate? No.

28.) What songs do you sing in the shower? Whatever is on the radio at the time

29) Favorite girl’s name? Amanda

30) Favorite boy’s name? Justin

31) What’s in your pocket? No pockets

32) Last person who made you laugh? Charlie Gibson

33) Best memory as a child? Going to my grandparents house at the bay. Swimming, boating, catching blue crabs and just hanging out on the porch.

34) Worst injury you’ve ever had?badly sprained ankles

35) Do you love where you live? Yes.

36.) How many TVs do you have in your house? One

37) Who is your loudest friend? SOmeone on hubby's side of the family. I'm NOT naming names.

38.) How many dogs do you have? None.

39) Does someone have a crush on you?Someone loves me, which is much better.

40) What is your favorite candy? Anything caramel

41) Favorite Sport?To watch or to play? To watch - football To play? indoor games

42) Where is the next place you want to travel to? DC

43) What were you doing 12 AM last night? Wandering the house hoping to sleep

44) What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up? My feet are cold!

Thoughts

I've been giving thought to the direction and theme I want to take this blog. I've decided that not only will I continue my ramblings from the treehouse, I will make certain to share with you the daily joys and happiness in my life. There's too few joys right now and I need positive affirmation that all is good. I invite you to share yours with me.



This joy is my hubby working on something for my work. My joy comes from watching him help me.

This joy is our warm cat, Spot. With her insecurities and penchant for ripping through the house, she keeps us quite entertained.

Find a happiness in your day today.

So where have I been?

Hmmmm.

The short answer is I've been lazy. The long answer is, well, longer.

Work got crazy. We ran a 50% off everything in the store sale from the 18th of December until our close for the season date of January 4th. I had Christmas Eve and Christmas Day off, then worked every day through the end. I was amazed at what people will buy when marked half off! Long and frenetic days, to say the least!

January 5th was hubby's birthday. The kids took us out for dinner to celebrate. I took him shopping for some new clothes for me. I had put off buying new dress slacks too long. I had need for dress clothes later in the week, so delaying any longer was not an option. I loathe shopping. I had 2 stores in mind to visit. I hit pay dirt on the first store! Walked in, found a sale rack, pulled 4 pairs of pants that should fit and went to try them on. 2 of the 4 were perfect! Exactly what I needed! Took them to the checkout, and they were on clearance. I was willing to pay the sale price, so getting them for a third of the price I was elated! Then it was on to find tops. 8 stores later I found 2 that "would work". Ugh

Thursday, Sunday and Monday I shopped for work. I'd never been on a buying trip before, and this was interesting. It's hard to put aside personal style and order things that are within the style of the offering in the store. The best part of it all was that I got to see Tyler Florence give a demo of recipes from his newest cookbook.

Since then, I've been happily enjoying a mini vacation. The store remains closed until the first weekend in March, so I have a few weeks to relax. We've been scanning old pictures into the computer and enjoying trips down memory lane. I'm reading a book a day, catching up on housework and cooking. I've started a workout video, hopefully I will keep it up.

That's the long version of where I've been. Sorry it's been so long.

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