Christmas Sing

I love Christmas music. I could listen to it all year long. I don't want Christmas decorations up until after Thanksgiving, but I start listening to Christmas music soon after Halloween.

I like it all, but my very favorite is singing Christmas music with the family. Last night we gathered as an extended family to sing Christmas songs. Most of us who are local were there, and we had a great time. We missed all the family who are far away.

My husband's family all sing, and have beautiful voices. Our children inherited that. There is no more beautiful sound in all the world to me than when the Linfords sing.

White Christmas Viewing

A couple of years ago I wrote about White Christmas here. I still try to watch it every year. This year I invited the girls to watch it with me, and everyone came yesterday. We ate popcorn and sugar cookies, and drank hot chocolate.

Austin, Matthew, Rachel, Madeleine

The kids love this movie. They call it "Christmas Whites", or sometimes "The Singing and Dancing Movie" (which is funny, because nearly every movie they watch has singing and dancing).

Truthfully, the kids didn't concentrate on the movie very long. By the time the war scenes were over, they were creating their own havoc. Luckily we've all seen the movie a million times, so it wasn't too distracting. We sang along with the songs, and discussed the women's wardrobes.

Best casual dress: Judy's black and white checked skirt, red belt and black sweater
Best dressy dress: Betty's dress at the cast party when the engagement is announced. A close second is Betty's dress when she sings, Love, You Didn't Do Right by Me.
Best "White Christmas" dress: Betty's. We all agreed we're not too fond of Judy's little cape.

Ray commandeered Debra to help him finish cleaning the garage so we could park my car in there. It was quite a project, and she missed the movie because she was helping him. I told her I'd watch it again with her if she wants. It warrants a picture or two:

Before

After

I'm sorry she missed the movie, but I'm sure happy about my garage. All in all, it was a great day!

An Irish Country Christmas by Patrick Taylor

Now here's a book I didn't want to end.  This is one of the Christmas books I randomly bought a couple of weeks ago, and it is a winner.

Think: At Home in Mitford moves to northern Ireland, and is about a rural medical practice in the mid 1960's. I really enjoyed all the characters. I have a particular fondness for books set in Ireland. I have no idea why, but I do.

I found out it is actually the third book in a series. It was well done, because I felt it was a complete book in itself. I have already requested the previous two books from the library. In case you're interested, the first book is An Irish Country Doctor by Patrick Taylor.

If you'll pardon the pun, this book was just what the doctor ordered.

Younger Next Year for Women by Chris Crowley & Henry S. Lodge, MD

Excellent book on how to have the last third of your life be the best it can be. In a nutshell: exercise, food, caring.

But don't take my word for it. Read the book. It's entertaining, informative, and best of all, motivating.

Sweet Dreams

Last August I wrote this post: Please Do Not Get into This Cupboard .

Here's why:

2010 Pillowcases

Our Christmas pillowcases for this year. Actually, this is only half of them. Many years ago I began making matching Christmas pillowcases for everyone in my family. On Thanksgiving morning I would sneak into the children's bedrooms and put on their new pillowcases. Then we'd keep them on our pillows the whole season, and sometimes even throughout the whole year.

The pillowcases are perfect for sleepovers, and things like camp. It's easy to find your pillow in the middle of a pile of pillows when it is Christmas themed, and has your name on it.

A sample of the pillowcases I've made - I started in 1995.

I don't make them every year any more. There are a lot more of us these days! I usually make them when we have a new member of the family. This year I made them in July so that I wouldn't have to worry about getting them done before the holidays. I'm sure glad I did. I've had a busy autumn.

Madeleine

Sweet dreams!

Giving Thanks

Some of the people I am thankful for:

Madeleine and Ray

Diane

Beth and Rachel

Rachel and Madeleine (Poor Mr. Potato Head now has no glasses to see with)

Diane

Rachel

Ray reading to Madeleine and Rachel

Diane watching her daddy play the piano

Randy bringing music into our lives

Madeleine

Austin and Madeleine in the freezing cold

My mother with her great-granddaughter, Diane

Madeleine, Matthew, Grandma Orris, Austin

My dad with his great-granddaughter Diane

Artistic License by Julie A. Hyzy

Sometimes I read a string of so-so books, and wonder if I'm just getting too picky about what I read, or too tired to want to read. Then I pick up a book that captures me from the first sentence and I can't put it down.

That's what Artistic License was like for me. I read the whole book in about three sittings, shutting out all distractions around me. It's Julie Hyzy's first book, and she did a great job. I've read three other books she's written, the "White House Chef" series: State of the Onion, Hail to the Chef, and Eggsecutive Orders (click on the titles and read my reviews). They were fun, and I wondered what her other books were like.

Now I know. Her books are worth reading. I've requested another one from the library.

Mistletoe and Mayhem by Kate Kingsbury

I was at the bookstore and picked up a few "Christmas reads." I knew they'd be light and easy to fit in during the season, and put me in mind of the season. A couple of them are mysteries, which of course I love.

This was a mystery. I've never read any in this series, or by this author. I liked it okay, and might be willing to try another by Kingsbury. But I didn't like it well enough to want to run to the store today to find another book.

I think I may have been a little more interested if I'd been more familiar with the series. I never felt firmly grounded in the setting - time or place - of the book. I did become intrigued enough by the end to wonder where the few loose ends might tie up, so that's good.

I'll stick this author on my potential reads list. Not at the top of the list, but on the list nevertheless.