Me On A Monday - December 31st

 

Source: Internet

 2018.  You certainly were a whirlwind of activity & brought with you some tremendous gifts; thanks.  I cannot wait to greet your sister year of 2019.

Over the holidays  I agreed to cat sit, so that saw me out twice a day Christmas Eve, Christmas Day & Boxing Day - Mr Man asked me several times - "tell me again WHY did you agree to this?"

Over the holidays my plans were to catch up on some sleep but so far those plans have not panned out ... I keep falling asleep at 7pm & when I get up to actually get into bed, I'm then wide awake until well after midnight & wake at 3:30-4:00am.  Goal 1 for 2019 is sort this sleeping pattern & get it righted.

Over the holidays I've had little time to read but on Friday I picked up a book from the lightening table - which means I have have only 7 days to read it & return, which is a good motivation to sit down & be quiet.  I picked this book solely on the jacket cover; Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty, who also wrote Big Little Lies.  I have no idea what the book is about.  

Over the holidays I ate far too much & a lot of the wrong things for me.  I'll say no more.

Over the holidays, I sat quietly & thought about what I need to Focus on in 2019 & picked my 12 Angel Cards - let's just say it's going to be interesting.

Happy New Year everyone, thank you for joining me on Mondays & Thursdays in 2018 & thank you for all your kind  comments & support throughout the year. Cheers!

Source: Internet

Me On A Monday - December 24th

Wishing you & yours a truly magical & Merry Christmas.  May all the joy of the season find you & bless you richly.
                          

Take Three Thursday - Colourful Joy

In an effort to notice more of the ordinary in my life, I have decided to share what I have noticed this week in Take Three Thursday.   The idea is to take 1 - 3 photos that are linked some how; by theme, by colour, by date, by moment,  by points of view. There is no formal link in but please feel free to join in.   What have you noticed this week?  

This week will be my last Take Three post for the year.  

This week I'm noticing the colours of Christmas.  What are your favourite seasonal combos? 

"Colour, what a deep & mysterious language, it is the images of dreams."

A Recipe To Share

This is the noodle side dish I made for last Friday's company.

Noodles Romanoff

This dish freezes really well.

1 pkg medium egg noodles (I use yolkless noodles)

(500ml) 2 cups large curd cottage cheese (I use low fat)

(500ml) 2 cups /shredded/grated Cheddar cheese (I use low fat marble & about 1/2 cup more)

(250ml) 1 cup sour cream (of course I use low fat)

(250ml) 1 cup chopped onions (sweet or green)

(5ml) 1 tsp salt (I leave this out)

(125ml) ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (I use from a jar)

(2ml) ½ tsp paprika (I leave this out)

Source: Internet

In large pot of boiling water, cook noodles until al dente (tender but firm).  Drain in colander, rinse with cold water; drain well & set aside.  In large bowl combine cottage cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, onions & salt.  Stir in noodles & mix well.  Turn into greased 8 cup (2l) casserole or baking dish.  Bake at 350 (180C) oven for 25-30 minutes or until sauce bubbles.  Makes 8 servings.

Me On A Monday - December 17th

Currently:


Reading: Becoming Mrs Lewis; just started, about 30 pages in, I am liking.  It's a novel, but based on the real love story CS Lewis & Helen Joy Davidman Gresham.

Also reading, two paper crafting magazines.  Creative Scrapbooker, I borrow from the library & Scrapbook & Cards Today I got free from a friend. Normally I can download Scrapbook & Cards but it really is so much nicer having the actual paper copy to glance through.  Ideas abound.

Sleep: is avoiding me, it's like we are on a bad breakup, not sure what I've done or said, but I wake up between 3:00-3:30am & I just cannot get back to sleep.


Eating: fairly healthy & still on my Naturopathic recommendations, although last Friday we had dinner guests & I did have an ample helping of the noodle/cheese side dish I made. Our guests brought us a tasty bottle of wine & a box of Scottish Shortbread cookies (biscuits) SO good, but I am paying for that break from the food plan.

In The Shopping Cart:  Mr Man bought me a new tree decoration for the horse tree.  It's painted on both sides so I can place to dangle or face either direction.

Baffled by: the phone call from previous boss, asking for help at the clinic & advice. 


“Sometimes you don’t need to hear their excuses or what they have to say for themselves because their actions already spoke the truth.”

Take Three Thursday - Watching

In an effort to notice more of the ordinary in my life, I have decided to share what I have noticed this week in Take Three Thursday.   The idea is to take 1 - 3 photos that are linked some how; by theme, by colour, by date, by moment,  by points of view. There is no formal link in but please feel free to join in.   

This week I've noticed which of my Christmas movies seem to pair well.  All of these movies come from a long family history.  My Grandmother is the one that started with the class black & white movies & then my Mother added hers to the list & every few years a family classic gets added to the list of our traditional must watch at Christmas time movie list.  What are your must watch Christmas movies?

These are the ones that I have watched so far this season.  The first pair are: Bill Murray in Scrooged, a take on Dicken's A Christmas Carol.   Carol Kane as the Fairy of Christmas Present is some of the funniest parts ... this movie is not for kids.  The other is Chevy Chase's Christmas Vacation - glad I don't live next door to Clark Griswold.

The second set that I think go well together are two originals both in black & white movies:  Miracle on 34th Street - it's all about the Christmas believing magic.  The second in this pairing is about the magic of Christmas prayers; The Bishop's Wife.

And the third pairing are all about the curtain pulled back on Santa

I know that many consider It's A Wonderful Life as a must see during the holidays, but neither Mr Man or I really think George Bailey had a wonderful life - all those around him because of him in many ways had a wonderful life, but not poor old George.  

And moving just outside of the threesome of Thursday, a must see on Christmas Eve is A Christmas Carol, black & white with Alister Sims as Scrooge.  Near the end after all three visits if you watch you will notice the stage hand in the mirror when Scrooge is checking himself out after the visit of the 3 ghosts.  Film history!

Me On A Monday - 10 On December 10th

Ten on the 10th - my top ten things I love about Christmas

1. The reason for the season - baby Jesus.  I love the Christmas story even if it's unlikely Jesus was really born in December, I like that we take a season to celebrate the difference a baby can make.

2. Christmas Magic, the possibilities of those wishes coming true & of being delivered with love.


3.  The food.  All the special holiday treats, especially cookies so beautifully decorated, those stuffed filled squares, those munchies brought out only at this time of year & let's not forget those special creamy drinks

4. Eggnog - oh yes, so creamy so good, so rich, with or without the booze.  There's so many things you can add egg nog to, cake batter, cookies.

5. The music.  I love Christmas carols, especially the ones that I know the words to.  Oh Come All Ye Faithful is a favourite.

6.  Christmas movies.  Love always wins at Christmas.

7. Cards, I like receiving & I'm really liking my new found interest in making them to send to family & friends.

8. Father Christmas, Santa Claus, Kris Kringle, Par Noel, - I like a guy that wants to bring you a beautifully wrapped gift, specially chosen for you.

9. The joy & friendliness that everyone conspires to be part of. 


10. Lights, twinkle ones, candle light ones, multi coloured ones; on the tree, on the house  

Take Three Thursday - The Sweet Side of Christmas

In an effort to notice more of the ordinary in my life, I have decided to share what I have noticed this week in Take Three Thursday.   The idea is to take 1 - 3 photos that are linked some how; by theme, by colour, by date, by moment,  by points of view. There is no formal link in but please feel free to join in.   What have you noticed this week?  

Christmas treats everywhere is what I'm noticing.  All the special chocolates sold & shared at Christmas.  Lindor are some of my favourites along with Quality Street.  Thankfully both can be bought at the bulk stores, so just a small hand picked selection for at home.

Cookies, I like cookies, I would take cookies over cake any day.  I watch the Christmas Cookie Challenges every year.  The decorating is truly a talent, not one I have.

Ah the smooth & usually sweet Christmas drinks, especially those with an egg nog base - but not to much or those digestives woes return.  Using candy canes as a stir stick - well it just makes it all the more festive.

"a balanced life is having a cookie in each hand." 

Me On A Monday - ABC of December 3rd

The ABC’s of Christmas

Angels Announcing Advent

Believe, absolutely Believe or you’ll get underwear

Cookies have no calories for Santa, but for you, there are many; cards, sending & receiving

Deliver gifts that you would want to receive

Exclaim joy

Feed the child in you

 

Gingerbread houses need to be built 

Holly

Insist on only the finest ingredients, such as pure vanilla in your baking

Jim jams - a new pair for Christmas Eve (pajamas)

Keep the reason for the season first & foremost

Lights, lots of them, inside & outside

Music & movies of Christmas, the old classical & the new

No naughty behaviour

Ornaments, lots on the tree & all about the house

Plants of the Christmas variety should be real, unless you have cats/dogs

Quality chocolate at Christmas is a must

Reindeer, all 8 of them with the occasional extra red nosed one

Sing, but not too loudly & try to know the words

Toys, donate one for a girl, one for a boy

 

Unwrapping of gifts, big or small

Visit Santa, write him a letter, tell him your deepest held wish

Weight gain is a probable side effect of Christmas

Xempt no one from merry making

Yule logs - simulated with a gas fireplace accepted

Zebras in a Santa hats DO make an acceptable festive ornament

Take Three Thursday - Pretty Holidays

Good News - the postal strike is over or at least diminished - the workers have been legislated back to work - so that means a weekend of card making!


This week my three are from the Patio Vault, foretelling of the season to come - Christmas.  One of my four favourite celebrations.

Please have a peek at what others are noticing this week - to name a few:

Karen with her beautiful cards & tags: Random Reflections
Maggie with lots of birthday celebrations: Farmer's Wife Day By Day  
Miss Wookie with interesting & pretty flowers: Mrs Wookies Wanderings 
Eileen with some renovations & adventures in a cloakroom: Bracelet of Days
Ruth with amazing scrap pages & wanders about London: This West London Life