Looking Forward to a Better Year

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Here is hoping for a wonderful 2012 for all of you.

This past year has had some sad times for us and I am looking forward to a great new year.

I don't make resolutions any more but here are a few things that I am hoping to do. (maybe : ))

• Try to eat healthier and drink more water.

• Ride my horses more.

• Learn to bake bread successfully!!!!

• Have a closer relationship with my son.

• Make arrangements with a pet sitter and go visit my sister for a few days.

• Go to church more.

• See a dermatologist.

• Have my chicken coop made or bought by spring!!!!!!

• Plant a vegetable garden, even if it's small.

• Find a sideboard for my dining room.

• Stop fretting about wrinkles!

• Train Monk to the Invisible Fence in the spring.

•Find a way to wake up happy!

• Declutter my computer.

• Put some of my photos on DVD's. I have over 15,000 photos in iPhoto!

•Declutter my house at least once a week, even if it's just one space.

••Win the lottery!!!

•••YES, WIN THE LOTTERY!!!

(There I've said it.)

Shirley

A Gadget That Worked!!

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I saw these furniture mover things on TV and decided to give them a try. I found then at Bed, Bath and Beyond. They usually carry a lot of things that are advertised on TV.

I have a huge leather couch that has to weigh at least 2 ton!!! No kidding, I cannot budge it an inch. I really didn't have a lot of faith that these "Sliders" would work like they showed on TV

I did have a heck of a time even getting them under the feet of the couch because the couch is really too heavy for me to pick up at all, but I managed. I was determined!!!

Let me tell you what. I gave that baby a push and slid it EASILY across the room!

I was so impressed!!

I rearranged the whole family room. I feel like I really accomplished something today!

Monk was a little confused at first but found his favorite love seat and settled in.

Shirley

Monk's Last Rx

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Monk spent the morning at the vets and had his final heart worm treatment. Just some oral wormer and a check up by the vet.

He had his skin "hot spots" shaved and treated and his teeth checked. He needs a cleaning which will help his "UGH" breath!!! But that will be in a couple months.

Oh yes, he got his nails trimmed!

Right now he has a couple more weeks of rest, then he can return to normal activity, which I think isn't much different!!!

But he'll be able to be groomed and go on walks.

Rocky says, I'll just rest too.

Here's Monk showing you his sore toe. Not really . . . it's just a hot spot that's been shaved. He has one under his chin, on top of his head and on his right back hock.

Rocky says, "Will my zebra make it all better?"

I'm so relieved that Monk has come through his heart worm treatment so well.

He's such a blessing and gives me lots of smiles.

Thank you all for your prayers and good thoughts.

Shirley

Just A Little Snow

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We had a couple days of beautiful sunny weather as the temperatures fell and we got just enough snow to be pretty.

Of course, Monk loves the colder temps and thinks he has to eat the snow!!!

Rocky would just rather stay in the warm house.

After an hour outside, Monk succumbs to nap time.

He sprawls himself out on the dining room floor.

Rocky curls up on the warm leather couch in the sun.

Seemed like a good day for chicken noodle soup to me!

Shirley

Bargain Time

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My Big Bargain of the Day

I wasn't going to go anywhere today but decided I needed a couple things at the grocery store and while I was out, why not check in with Goodwill!!

It was supposed to snow later so I got there early this afternoon.

I didn't find any good dishes so I went to the clothes racks.

Look what I found on the "Coat and Jacket" rack!!

The label made me try it on.

An Eddie Bauer GOOSE DOWN Jacket!!!!!

It's a little big but will be perfect for the barn over my winter overalls.

It has a heavy duty hood that is detachable.

All the pockets zip and there's inside pockets too.

The best pocket is here! A cell phone pocket. : )) This coat looks barely used.

And the best part is that it was $6.00 but I had a 35% off coupon so this Eddie Bauer coat cost me $4.15!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What a bargain!

I'm linking with these two blogs.

http://www.thethriftyhome.com/

and:

http://lbratina.blogspot.com/

Have a great day!

Shirley

Christmas with the Horses

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A previous photo of Echo and Preacher

I cannot believe that I took my camera to the barn on Christmas day to take pictures of me and Michele riding. It has become a tradition now and every year we have pictures. Not this year! I was worried that Michele wasn't going to be up to visiting the barn and riding since Satire isn't with us any more. She was quiet at first but when we started riding and she had to pay attention to what she was doing, things got better. However, the cameras sat in their bag and neither one of us thought of it. We had a good time anyway and she plans on coming out about once a week or so to ride. I hope so.

Shirley

Christmas Eve

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I was going to link these with "Mosaic Monday" but I don't think there is one this week. But these tell the story of Christmas Eve at my son and daughter-in-laws house with the grandkids. It was fun and they were so excited.

We had a good dinner of Honey Baked ham, cheesy potatoes and green peas and cherry pie for desert.

My son, Carl, gets to take everything out of the boxes and put them all together if needed.

The photos below were taken by my daughter Michele.

There are some short videos on my FaceBook page. http://www.facebook.com/shirley.corwin

I hope you all had a wonderful, family filled Christmas too.

Shirley

Sister's Handmade Card

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I'm linking up with "Show and Tell Friday"

http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

As some of my readers know, my sister makes her own cards. She's been doing this for awhile and has a craft room that looks like a store. I get a card for all holidays and every season change and sometimes, just because.

This Christmas card is particularly beautiful with pearls and real lace.

Inside is a little pocket that held my Christmas presents. Gift cards to two of my favorite places. Panera and of course, Starbucks! Yippee!!!!

Looks nice up there on the fireplace mantle!

Thank you Sue!

Shirley

The Simple Woman's Daybook 2

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http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

FOR TODAY

Outside my window... It's dark now but we had another unseasonably warm day. It rained and was gloomy till late this afternoon when the sun poked through. If I look out my family room window, I can see Monk laying on the deck. He couldn't go out most of today because of the rain so he's enjoying it now. I think I have the house temperature too warm for him and his heavy "bear-like" coat. He's a St Bernard you know!

I am thinking... That it's been really hard this year to get into any kind of "Christmas spirit". The death of our horse Satire has left a big hole and then Squeaker died a couple weeks ago. I'm hoping that being with my grand kids and family on Christmas eve will brighten things up.

I am thankful... That I have felt less stress and anxiety and that my mammogram was normal. It always has been but I think that is always a worry to women! I am more and more thankful every year for my kids and family and the close relationship my sister and I have. I am thankful for my best friend Midge who has gone through so much with cancer and has stayed so strong in her faith of Jesus and that she is doing well now. Of course anyone who knows me knows how thankful I am to have my animals and that I had the opportunity to adopt Monk this year and that he is coming through his heart worm treatment well.

In the kitchen... the dish wash is humming. The cookie tins are full and I still have to make coffee for breakfast.

I am wearing... nylon running pants, (even though I don't run), a turtle neck shirt, a fleece vest and clogs on my feet.

I am creating... nothing at the moment. Yesterday I was creating a lot of cookies!

I am going... to go to bed soon and watch Frasier on TV.

I am wondering... what is going on with this weather! We haven't had snow yet, to speak of, and this is the first day of winter. Looks like no white Christmas this year. The problem with the warm temps or the fluctuations from cold to near 60 is with the horses. Some don't do well with changes like that. So far mine have been OK but one horse in the barn collicked last week. (He's ok now) Always a worry though. I had the barn owner give my horses just half their grain tonight.

I am reading... "Crazy Ladies" by Michael Lee West. She has a great blog online at:

http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com/ She's written quite a few books. This is the first one I've read and it's very good. She's the one with the great linky party called "Foodie Friday".

I am hoping... that on Christmas day, when my daughter and I spend it at the barn riding, that it won't be too sad of a time for her. Michele has only been out to the barn once since Satire died.

I am looking forward to... Christmas Eve at my son's house with the grandkids opening all their presents. They are at a wonderful age of being so excited and believing in Santa.

I am hearing... the TV out in the family room. The 10pm news is on.

Around the house... are Christmas decorations. At least some. I didn't do much this year since I'm not hosting Christmas Eve.

I am pondering... about types of chicken coops!! My son is supposed to build me one before Spring . . . before spring chicks!! I have the wood. I need the carpenter!! I plan on having 3-4 laying hens.

One of my favorite things... is the way Monk looks at me with those soulful eyes!!!! He's talking to me but I don't always know what he's saying!

A few plans for the rest of the week: I'm going to the barn the next couple days to ride. Tomorrow it's Echo's turn! I have to go to the bank and also have to pick up some refrigerated pie dough. I thought I had another box and I don't!! Lucky I looked! I'm making little individual pies in small mason jars for desert for Christmas Eve. I'll take pictures if they turn out!

Here are the pictures I am sharing today...

Monk and Rocky. Both taken by my daughter.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Shirley

Mom's Toffee Bars

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I'm linking this post with "Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays"

http://www.blessedwithgrace.net/

My mother always made these cookies at Christmas time and now my sister and I do too.

Here is the recipe. The candy bars that it talks about are regular Hershey chocolate bars that you lay on the hot cookies as soon as you remove them from the oven.

See all those missing ones? I ate them. You have to test!!!!

They are scrumptious!!

I think I'll go test another one.

If your chocolate is too soft you can set it by putting the pan in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes.

Enjoy!

Shirley

Today at the Barn

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Today at the barn I took the herd of horses that Echo and Preacher go out with and ran them around. They had a lot of pent up energy. Echo was full of it. I wish I had thought to take a video 5 minutes before this one but I was trying not to get trampled!!

After they had calmed down. That's Preacher behind Echo.

Shirley

Around the House

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A Few More Little Christmas Touches

I brought in a sprig from one of the fir trees outside hoping it would give off a nice Christmassy pine smell but I don't smell a thing!

Bummer!!

A nice red ribbon around some old books.

And around these two beautiful little Christmas books.

Even my grandkids toy dog gets antlers!!

Shirley

A Little More

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This is part two linked with Transformation Thursday.

http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/

I didn't do all that much decorating this year since I'm not hosting Christmas Eve. I finished up things yesterday. I decided to redo my mantle. It wasn't as pretty as the one in my header from last year so I gave it some more height.

This is my only little tree. My Charlie Brown folk art tree in the front window.

A spray of greenery over the kitchen window.

The wreaths on my dining room windows.

And I added a few red berries to my DR chandelier.

Yes, I had to decorate the dogs too. I had to quick take Rocky's picture before he took off!

Monk didn't stand a chance; he was sleeping on his couch.

You can tell how thrilled he is!! Merry Christmas Monk . . I promise you won't have to put bunny ears on for Easter!

(Of course, that would be cute!!!!)

Shirley