~ A Very Happy and BLESSED "New Year" to you ALL~

I can't believe it is time for this already.



I'm usually ALWAYS ready for the old year to end and the NEW Year to begin.

However the end of this year crept up on me pretty fast.
I didn't even realize it was ending already until just a few moments ago!

Which I suppose is a good thing.

2009 has been kind to us...and we added a new member to our family.

Which we didn't expect at the beginning of the year...but we were thankful for when it happened! We love our new "Son."

And our daughter,"Mrs. Priss and Mr. Joshua are very happy together. I am wishing you a VERY Happy and BLESSED 2010!

I pray that the next year will be just as good..not only for us, but for you and yours!

We're BACK!

After a long and FABULOUS trip to New York......we are now resting.We did so much while we were there that we absolutly wore ourselves ragged.

And the FIRST thing I did the next day after arriving home at 1:00am from New Orlean airport into Baton Rouge, was to make a "chicken soup."

Comforting to the body and to the soul.

Photos will come to post as soon as I figure out how to download them off of my NEW camera!
Hate that....but technology is ever changing.

~We are OFF to NYC~

Wishing you all a VERY Happy and MERRY Christmas.....
We leave for New Orleans at 4:15am....which means I need to be up for 3'ish.

WHO booked this flight so early?????

Hummm....well I guess I wasn't thinking so straight in July when the trip was booked that was about the very same time my daughter came home from her trip to Africa and became engaged that very day!!!

So I best get to bed now I am SO not an early morning person. I'd do better to just stay up actually but then I would be a bear all day and exhausted.

See you soon.......ya'll be BLESSED!

~Christmas Tea~

Our little "Tea" group met together last Saturday night at our good friend Marsha's house. Regardless of the fact that it was raining hard, as it had been for DAYS.
The evening was so wet and cold and dark...but inside of Marsha's house....it was cherry, warm and cozy!


We all each prepared a "Sweet and a Savory" dish to bring.......
ALL of the "Savories" were fabulous!
We dined on "mini quiche," a feta and spinach pinwheel sand which, Marsha's "WORLD FAMOUS" cucumber sandwiches...which really are the best in the world....and I made "Double Cranberry Turkey Costinis."

Well actually Don my husband made them for me because I was working and he did a GREAT job of following my instructions for making them. They were so gooooood!! (Not bragging or anything... :~)

We had scones of course, before our desserts...two kinds in fact.
Marsha made these because she's so great at doing them. She makes them all the time. I in fact have her make them for me to keep in my freezer for whenever I want one!

And now the "Sweets."
My friend Diane's "Yule Log" was so beautiful and tasted wonderful! I made the little "Cheesecakes" that were poured into molded Belgium chocolate candy, shaped molds, dressing them off with a bit of "Holly and berries," fake of course. HA!

Tricia brought the little "Bourbon Pecan Pie pieces." Wait, now I am not sure...was it Bourbon or Rum? Hiccup!
HA!They were DELICIOUS! And we couldn't taste a hint of alcohol. Whatever it was in there.Diane and Marsha, "deep in conversation."Tricia had come a bit later because she was at "Christmas Play Practice" for her church."Christy"...Marsha's sweet "DIL," came as soon as she had gotten off work at her job too. Joyce, who isn't looking so grand after working 6 hours of retail all day, and Tricia.
Two dear and happy friends, Diane and Marsha. Me, and "Becky," one of two sweet kitties that Marsha has and loves to bits.

Our little "Tea party" lasted SIX hours...good grief! I was sooo tied when I finally went home. HA! But what a great time and what great memories did I make with my dear friends.

I wanted to post these photos on here before I became much more crazed than I already am.
I will be working alot the next few days, including today...and we leave for NYC on Tuesday!

Hope to see you all again soon!
Be blessed,
Joyce

Busy days.......

Thankfully, I did my decorating "early." Because I work retail and as you can imagine.....
This is my busiest work time of the entire year, and for the most part....
I LOOOOVE it!!
But it is hard to keep up with life and "event's" during the month of December for me. SO I "try" to stay highly organized.
This years Christmas mantel is being guarded by the very fierce "Nutcrackers"....the middle one is a Fitz and Floyd and the other two are Steinbachs.
These decorative "antique replica" postcards were went to me by my sister Jenny recently. She knows how much I love things like these.Cookies have been made....and some have been eaten and some have been "saved up" for our family Christmas Party this coming Thursday night.I don't do alot of baking any more..because I would be the only one eating it. But when there is a special "occasion"...I do a a little bit of it.

The "Stockings" are hung and they are full of......well, "Kittens."Just "one kitten" to be exact.
Meet my "Grandkitten"...... "Tom Kitten." Mrs Priss's new "baby"...she's a Beatrix Potter fan can you tell??

We babysat him while Mrs. Priss and Mr. Joshua were in Gatlinburg with his family for a week at Thanksgiving.

It's dreary, dark and absolutely pouring outside here...our version of "Cajun Sneaux" (snow).....and I think I am going BACK TO BED.Then later I'm off to work for the afternoon and evening.

Hope your all faring well in your worlds!
Be blessed today.....

I wish.......

I wish I could stay home and do this today. But not counting the fact that it's muggy and 1050 degrees here today......I must go to work. Blah!

So off I go.....and I probably need show up in a swimsuit because it's so hot. And it's ALWAYS hot where I work for some odd reason.

But that before mentioned outfit might just scare off the Christmas shoppers so I better opt for jeans and a nice shirt.
And crank the air down real low.

Here's hoping things are well for all of you in your part of the world.

December 1st

Today is full of dreary "Cajun Sneaux"(rain) and it's a bit cold here. We don't seem to every have a "Fall" we go straight from the "Hell Fire" heat.....right into Winter.

Here's a photo of Baby "Aaron" who once again was in the hospital yesterday morning. He has little glasses to wear now due to some weak muscles in his eyes. My entire family has been "devastated" by the FLU....again.
Plus in the past week....Aaron's daddy had a massive heart attack and another near one in the hospital the other night. They have had to do three procedures on him and put in 7 stints to help open vessels.

ADD to this...my Step Father was taking from his nursing home to the ER with pneumonia.
My poor family up there in Iowa has been going through it.
Things will get better soon. I believe that. Many people are praying for them all. And they NEED it.
Hope your all having a great day!

I have so much to say......as always. :~)
But I am busy working my brains out right now with the Christmas holidays approaching. SO I will be back soon!
Cheers!!!!
Joyce