A Time For Everything

So it's the last day of 2012, which overall wasn't a bad year. I'm writing to you this morning from the wilds of central Texas where our fireworks store is located. I came down last night to help out if necessary. They probably could have done without me, but that's okay. We broke $10K for the season last night too. DH was pleasantly surprised. The major expenses haven't quite been covered, but today will bring in enough to cover the rest and then some. If we can manage to pay off the guy we bought the place from, then come 4th of July all profits are ours. Finally. After four years. It wasn't supposed to take so long, but governments and economies happen.

But enough of that--last week I said we'd talk about goals for the new year, so...

My goals for the new year include reading more. At least a book a week for a minimum total of 52 books for 2013. I've probably amassed a good chunk of those already from all the free Kindle books I've found over the past couple of weeks, and I'll probably be visiting the library more often as well.

Another major goal is to lose the last 20 to 30 pounds to reach my target weight. After that, it'll be all about toning and converting that flab to muscle. Which, yes, I know will weigh more. But that's okay.

I'd also like to get back to doing crafts. My girls want to learn to sew, and we've already gotten started on our projects. But I'd also like get back to cross-stitching and rubber stamping. And I'd like to do some basic toll painting. Many years ago, I wanted to put together and decorate a doll house. I got one, but we were really too poor for me to do it justice. It's not an inexpensive endeavor. The houses themselves can cost hundreds of dollars. Then you have to put them together, paint them, decorate them. They take time, money, and space.

And there's writing of course--several times in the past half-dozen years I've gone through a bit of a crisis if you will. Do I want to write for publication. Of course, these days, I could bypass all normal channels and self-publish my work, but I know my writing is not quite as ready for the big time as it could be and should be. I love writing, I really do. I love to learn about writing and love working to improve my writing, reading other people's thoughts on various aspects of it and taking classes, but I get what I need from writing from writing fan fiction and from the feedback I get when I post it in fan fiction venues. I also love to beta-read and critique other's work and I've wondered if that's really what I'd rather be doing.

So the goal I guess is to figure out my career path. If I decide to pursue the editorial aspect, I still have much to learn. I may even go back to school and pursue a 2-year degree in English.

One of our financial goals last year was to put some serious money aside and considering our history, we did pretty well. So I guess we'll continue on and try to do better this year by not only putting money aside, but by paying off a debt or two as well.

So those are a few of my major goals.

How about you?? Care to share?

I think. We're going into the weekend right before New Year's Eve. I don't really want to go down to the store before the 30th. I just want to relax and rest up for the 30th and 31st and get my house clean and the laundry done and prepare for the new year as best I can.

Before we get to what I received for Christmas, I heard some things I wanted to share.

1st) Norman Schwartzkopf died last night.
2nd) Radio City Music Hall celebrates 80 years, but more interestingly, its pipe organ with 4410 pipes and two keyboards is the largest pipe organ ever built for a movie theater
3rd) well, there is no third--I can't find the info anymore. ugh
and
4th) if you're the praying sort, please lift up Mrs. Carmen Bernal and her family; Mrs. Bernal suffered a stroke this past week; she's the mother of Sonshine's band director...

Now for Christmas...

We spent Christmas Eve at my mother-in-law's house with everyone present--including one of my sisters-in-law and both my nephews, and of course my Brown Eyed Girl. Many many years ago, somewhere around thirteen years or so (when Sonshine was around 4, best we can estimate), we'd taken a picture of five of the six grand kids. Well, those same five were back together and all grown up. So we piled them back on top of one another and took another picture. I'll share the before and after as soon as I get the before scanned.

Christmas Morning for the Brown-Eyed Girl and me started at 4:30ish am. Neither of us could sleep any longer so we got up. DH found us shortly after 5. By 5:30 we'd woken up DD and Sonshine and began the festivities. We were done by 7:30. Pretty sad huh??

Some pics of Christmas...





Knowing that bad weather was on its way, us girls were home by noon. Later that afternoon, we received a white Christmas as an additional little surprise.


So how was your Christmas?

And don't forget, goals for the New Year coming Monday--see you then. Have a good weekend.

I hadn't really been dreaming of a white Christmas, but as I was home safe and sound by the time the white stuff started falling, I was quite happy to enjoy it. And since the temps won't rise about the freezing mark until close to noon, it's hanging around for a while. I'm not complaining. It's my kind of snow--the kind that covers roofs and lawns, but melts away on the roads and driveways. No shoveling required.



And since I'm the only one in the office today, I'm not heading in until a wee bit later--once the other crazies are where they need to be.

Christmas itself was lovely and fun, and I received some wonderful goodies. I'll share those with you on Friday. For now, I'm going to enjoy the peace and quiet, some hot tea, and continue reading.I hope that where ever you went and whatever you did for Christmas, that it was wonderful.

And now that Christmas is past (barely, but still!) New Years is just around the corner, and it's time to set or re-set some goals. I'll share mine on Monday. Be thinking about yours, too.

One day to go...or maybe only half a day if you celebrate on Christmas Eve.

Growing up, my mom and I celebrated on Christmas Day. I remember it just being us for the most part and Christmas Eve was low key. Christmas morning however was when we opened stockings--well, I dug through my stocking. Then prezzies and later dinner at home or with neighbors and good friends.

Nowadays, my mother-in-law hosts Christmas Eve at her house with dinner and presents and whatever family is in town. This year will be an extra special Christmas as the Brown Eyed Girl is back in the fold. My sister-in-law is back from her world travels (she's missed 2 Christmases) and her son will be joining us too. My other nephew will be on hand as well, so there will be a full house and a lot of fun.

Last year's tree:



Christmas morning will be stress-free and low key. After tonight's festivities, we'll head back to the store and bed down. We'll be taking Sammy with us too since it'll be the first Christmas without Honey and I don't want to leave her home alone, locked up in the garage.

Tomorrow we'll did into stockings, eat cinnamon rolls, and open presents. This year, us girls will probably head home before noon since northern Texas is expecting frozen rain/snow. I'd kinda like to be home before the roads get nasty. :)

Today's Christmas song is We Three Kings sung by King's College Choir, Cambridge:


What are your Christmas Eve versus Christmas Day traditional plans?

Have a wonderful holiday whatever you do.

Only TWO days to go. I don't have access to my number icon/graphic today, though, so it's just all words.

Today's countdown tradition is baking. I used to bake up a storm. Mainly sugar cookies with colored sugar sprinkles and mini-loaves of banana bread to hand out as gifts to close friends. I'd start in September and October and put it in the freezer for safe-keeping until December. I've gotten far away from that, sad to say. These days, I make pumpkin cake and probably only because I love it so much.

Yesterday, I spent the day with four wonderful women. My critique partners. Each of us unique and brings something special to the group. We assembled at one's home and spent the afternoon talking and laughing and sharing and having fun. In addition, we did a few little Christmas crafts and exchanged ornaments. I wish I had a picture. We were going to take one, but then we all decided it was time to head home and we just plain forgot. :(

The important part there was to take some time to spend with those you truly treasure and enjoy being with. It was a nice break from the craziness of the holiday season. No malls and no crowds to fight with or traffic to navigate. Just a day for friends.

My Christmas song for today--in anticipation of snow on Tuesday afternoon here in northern Texas--is I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas by the one and only Frank Sinatra.


Are you a baker? If so, what are your favorite treats to make at the holidays? If not, is there a favorite treat someone else always made/makes for you?