The First Snow

The first snow of the season is always so fun.  It makes me happy and nostalgic.

Junior running relentlessly through the snow as if he is laughing and singing with his hair blowing in the breeze and then running upstairs and jumping under the covers.

Emmy shoveling with her dad.

The girls making snow angels.

Bundling the girls up until they couldn't move to play outside. Warming them up when they came back in.

Hot Chocolate.

Norman stuck in the way back because the snow was too high.

Seeing only Sunshine's head.

Carving out a path through the backyard so the dogs could poop.

Eating snow.  Before your mom told you what was likely in it. 

Salting the back porch so Lilly doesn't slip and hurt her bum leg.

Getting hit in the face with a tobaggan and having my braces fall off.

Forts.

Icicles hanging from the roof.

Tunneling in the storm of 78 to deliver papers.

Cream horns at the bakery.

Watching snow flakes land and realizing just how beautiful they are.

Enjoy the snow.  Keep your heart warm and your memories close by.  

Take that candied yams!

I wasn't always the super pleasant person I am today.  I know it is hard to believe.  I once had a temper and was kinda mean to people.  I know, say it ain't so...

My favorite "you are outta your mind" episode occurred one Thanksgiving.  Everyone kept asking me "do you want help?"  Now if I want help I will say I want help.  After the 10,000th time of hearing that, I had just opened the oven where the candied yams were baking.  I picked up the pan and the load shifted.  Yep bad news when you are talking about yams and aluminum.  So in one of my epic moments, I decided to just throw the pan on the floor and proclaim "I need a bit of help."

My mom was like "Jesus Shelley, all you had to say was stop asking me for help." Oh snap, the eyeball rolls, laser-eye looks, and snarky remarks clearly didn't speak loud enough.  Sunshine enjoyed the yams.  I think my kitchen is still sticky in places from that day and it was over a decade ago.  I don't know if that speaks to my cleaning abilities or the force I exerted on that food item.

Happy Thanksgiving to all and may you always have much for which to be thankful.  Gobble Gobble 

Big Norm

Today would have been Stormin' Norman's 17th birthday.  He was a phenomenal dog.  A miniature schnauzer of which nothing was miniature.  He was salt and pepper in color, had oversized organs and was a hulking 40 lbs.  He would lumber about all the time.  Nothing really made him crazy.  When he would go outside he would mosey about for a long time.

In the winter when the snow flew, he would go to the back of the yard and then refuse to come in.  We would have to go lift up that lug and bring him in.  He was heavy.

He was the first dog we ever had that Michael liked.  He would pet Norm in secret and then deny it if we asked.  He would rub Norm's belly and if we came in, he would act as though Norm had gotten in trouble.

Norm had a chair.  It was the blue lazy boy, which clearly described his nature.  If someone was in his chair, he would just hop up there and sit right on them if he had to.  He and Erin fought about that chair for a long time.  Now Elly lays in that chair.  

Junior reminds us of Norm and on this day, it comforts me to look at Junior and remember Norm fondly.  I do so hope there is a dog section in Heaven.  Norman is there sitting in a comfy chair and eating a bone.  He is likely sitting next to Sunshine whose beard is orange from just having raided some Angel's garbage who ate Spaghettios. 

Elly enjoying Norm's chair 

Cinder Elly, Cinder-Elly!

This is Elly.  Erin rescued her from the shelter.  She has 3 legs as a result of an October car accident which is what led her to be in a shelter.  She is healing well and is adapting amazingly.  She has more spunk and life in her than most 4 legged animals and most 2 legged people! 

I get to puppy sit her on weekends when Erin has to work. She is so loving.  When she comes up to you she leans into your body to rest her little tripawd frame.  She has a tongue about a foot long that you don't even see coming and then BOOM, you have been slobbered upon.  

If the Disney story is any indication of how her life will turn out, this Cinder-Elly is in for the best life ever!

 

It all started with a Big Bang

It's 8 o'clock.  Time for the Big Bang Theory.  We watch every Thursday night.  Usually our eldest serenades us with the theme song.  She, though, is living with her husband out of state.  Funny how you miss what seemed like a little thing.  Then as if on queue:

We are serenaded yet again...via text.  I love my children.  Happy Throwback Thursday.  What happy memory are you having tonight? 

Crisco, butter knife, and a tic tac

Desperation is the mother of invention, or something like that.  Well, actually I think it is more like, I think a butter knife will work.  MacGyver has nothing on me.

Got a piece of loose carpet, tuck it with a butter knife

Need paint opened and stirred, butter knife and plunger

Want to open the washer latch before the washer stops, butter knife

Your dad wants to make a point, butter knife slips right to your chest

Need to open mail, butter knife

Open the back of a watch, butter knife

Need to turn a screw, butter knife

Then there is Crisco...fries chicken, eliminates creaky hinges, removes bags under your eyes, great to make cookies, and outstanding as a night hand and foot cream.

I'm gonna go suck on that tic tac and then break someone out of jail with my cool household items...

Damn Zombies

Someone slap me.  Every once in a while I get the feeling that I can handle a spooky movie or tv show.  Tonight was one of those nights.

Twenty minutes into American Horror Story and I am a wreck.  I am in a hotel in another state with all the lights on and the door bolted shut.  I have a fork damnit!

Really?! How ridiculous am I right now?

At least I will be able to see the Zombies in the doorway of my suite before they lick my bones clean and likely use that fork I was protecting myself with to eat my eyeballs.

One day I will be free to watch these shows without the "after effects."  Until then I relish the weekly challenge!