WWW Wednesday

 

The Three Ws are:

What are you currently reading?   The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett (Winner of Goodreads Best Historical Fiction book for 2020.

What did you recently finish reading?  The Roanoke Girls by Amy Engel.  I discovered this author over the summer.  She is from Missouri like myself and I think I just connect with her writing.  She writes about places in Missouri and writes about the problems in Missouri.  This particular book is about sexual abuse within the family.  It is disturbing, but I enjoy her writing.  This book is a thriller.

What do you think you’ll read next?  The Guestlist by Lucy Foley.  It was voted the Goodreads best mystery/thriller of 2020.  I  am looking forward to reading it.

Tuesday 4- Happy New Year!!

 

 

Happy New Year and welcome once again to Tuesday 4 where we remember and honor

the memory of our friend Toni Taddeo who began Tuesday4..


Happy New Year!!



The Times Square ball first dropped on December 31, 1907. It is 12 feet in diameter and

covered with Swarovski crystals.


1. Despite the weirdness of this past year, was it still a good year for you anyway or not?

It was a good year.  I was able to relax and read more.  We never saw any stoppage in our

finances.  Karl is actually making more money and I got a raise too, which we were not

sure of we would or not as educators.  We have been healthy so far, so I am going to say we 

had a good year.


2. How will you spend New Years Eve?  We typically watch the ball drop on tv.  My party

days are over.

3. What do you do on New Year's Day? Is football part of the agenda?  I usually take down 

Christmas decorations and start deep cleaning my house to start the New Year fresh.

Football will probably be part of Karl's day though.

4. It's a Scottish tradition to kiss at midnight. Do you keep that tradition? Does everyone

get a kiss if you do?  I did when I was young, but haven't done the kiss in a while.


May your new year be a bright and blessed one, free of trials and tribulations. All the very

best to you and your family.

Sunday Stealing- For those who celebrate Christmas #2

 

  

For those who celebrate Christmas #2

 

 Star or Angel?  Angel 

White Lights or Colored Lights?  Colored

Blinking Lights or Still Lights?  I love both, but in my house they are still.

When do you open your gifts? Christmas Day

Do you buy gifts for your pet?  yes, they usually get toys, but this year they got new collars with

their name our address and phone number engraved on their collar.

Be honest: What's the worst gift you've ever gotten?  I love all gifts

Have you ever traveled for the holiday?  just to family's homes.

Did you see Santa as a child?  yes

Can you name all the reindeer? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen.  Comet, Cupid, Donder and

Blitzen but do you recall the most famous reindeer of all----Rudolph the red nosed reindeer. 

I sang all of this.  Did you?

Have you ever gone caroling?  no

Do you drive around and look at the Christmas lights?  yes

Have you ever left Santa cookies?  of course

Have you ever had a white Christmas?  yes, but it is very rare in Missouri...10% chance of snow

on Christmas.

Have you ever made a gingerbread house from scratch? From a kit?  neither...sad

Be honest: Do you think the season is too commercial?  I love it...I just remember the reason.

Imagine you were going to create the quintessential holiday soundtrack -- which song(s) absolutely

must be included?  Mary Did You Know and O Holy Night

What are your Christmas pet peeves?  I am not sure.  I love Christmas!

Saturday 9- Purple Snowflakes

 

Purple Snowflakes

This is the last Saturday 9 of 2020. Thanks for participating!


Saturday 9: Purple Snowflakes (2018)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) The lyrics ask where the snowflakes go. Sam can answer that: she shovels them! Do you shovel or use a snow blower? Or do you live in a warmer climate with no snow?   We have both, I like to shovel and Karl uses the snow blower.

 

2) This week's artist, John Legend, recalls his Christmases growing up, singing carols with his family around the piano. Do you have a piano, or any other musical instruments, in your home?  no

3) This song is from John Legend's first Christmas album, A Legendary Christmas. It was a massive hit. Did you add any new music to your holiday collection this year?  no

4) John and his wife Chrissy Teigen go caroling with friends. Have you ever gone caroling through your neighborhood?  no, but I would love it.  We used to carol at school, we would sing Christmas carols in French, it was French class.

5) Chrissy's hobby is cooking. While she likes experimenting with new recipes, her young children prefer their familiar favorites, like mashed potatoes. She tosses a bay leaf into the water as the potatoes boil to add enhance the flavor. Do you have a dish that's considered your specialty?  not really, I enjoy making lasagna and cheesy burritos the most though.

6) John prefers to unwind with a good book and loves comparing reading recommendations with friends. Did you discover any books in 2020 that you'd like to recommend to our Sat 9ers?  Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell (thriller), One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus(Young Adult Fiction), The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes(Historical Fiction), The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides(thriller), Educated by Tara Westover(Memoir), Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate (historical Fiction), Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens (fiction) and Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng (fiction).   I have a couple on my list that I think will be good Anxious People by Fredrik Backman (fiction) and The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett (historical fiction) and The Midnight Library by Matt Haig (fiction).

7) This song was written by Motown powerhouse Marvin Gaye. Who is your favorite Motown artist?  Maybe Michael Jackson or Lionel Richie

8) In 1972, Marvin wrote another Christmas song, "I Want to Come Home for Christmas." He dedicated it to the troops then serving in Vietnam. Do you know anyone who is protecting us this holiday season? Tell us about him or her. Whether they are in the armed forces, the police or fire department, or the ER, we want to say thank you!  My niece is an RN working in the hospital in Springfield...she is typically in labor and delivery, but lately has been in the covid unit.  It is getting bad and they are having to move staff around.  Here she is in her work outfit.

9) Random question: You go into the kitchen to make your perfect sandwich. What fixings do you need?  Lately my favorite sandwich is tuna, so tuna, bread, a boiled egg and mayo.  Now that is what I want to eat.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

 

Merry Christmas!  I hope you have a great day!  I am cooking now and my mom will be here at noon.  We will eat and open presents and visit.  I will be back tomorrow for Saturday 9!  See you then.

Christmas Eve.

   I am going to start cooking today for Christmas dinner and cleaning up the house.  We are planning to have some snacks tonight...meatballs and crackers...but we ordered pizza last night and they messed up our order, so we have some leftover pizza to eat too because they let us keep the messed up order as well as the order we made.  Anyway, we are having my mom over for Christmas, so it will be myself, Karl, Josh and my mom.  I got the presents wrapped finally!  I am ready.  Merry Christmas!

WWW Wednesday

 

The Three Ws are:

What are you currently reading?  The Wives by Tarryn Fisher, it is about a man that has 3 wives.  Anyway, two of the wives meet each other and that is as far as I have gotten.  I just started it.  It is very fast paced and I like it so far.  It is a thriller and on the best thriller of  the year for 2020 list.

What did you recently finish reading?  Long Bright River by Liz Moore.  It is about sisters...one is an officer and the other a drug addict in the middle of the opioid crisis.  This book is good, but not for me.  It was ok, but I think others might enjoy it a lot more.

What do you think you’ll read next?  I have a pile here to read that I have picked up for the holiday break.  I believe this one will be next for me though.  The Girl from Widow Hills.  It is another thriller off the Goodreads best thrillers of 2020 list.

My car is in the shop.  I got stranded at the library last night and had it towed.  I tried to have it jumped, but that wasn't it.  Maybe the starter?  I guess I will find out in time.  Wednesday I will be reading and doing laundry.  Have a great day! 

**UPDATE**  My car is fixed.  It was the starter and it was replaced and my car back home by 11:00 AM...so glad that is taken care of.  I am finishing up The Wives and I will start reading The Girl from Widow Hills.  My laundry is almost done too.  I am also going to try to get a Christmas movie or two in today too.

Tuesday 4 Meme- A Merry Little Christmas

 

A Merry Little Christmas

Thank you for joining in for Tuesday 4, begun by Toni Taddeo and kept in her memory.

Christmas is fast approaching for millions of people...

1. Do you have a favorite Christmas carol and if so is there a particular version you

 especially like?  I really like Oh Holy Night and Mary Did You Know...the original

 by Mark Lowry.

2.Do you have a special dinner for the holidays? What foods are included?  We have ham, 

mashed potatoes and ham gravy, green beans, mac and cheese, deviled eggs, hot rolls, 

pecan pie and coconut cream pie.

3.Holiday movies ... which do you like to watch?  It's a Wonderful Life

4. What traditions do you continue to keep year after year for the holidays?  Tree goes up right

 after Thanksgiving is over and comes down on January 1st.  The food is traditional.  Santa Paws comes Christmas Eve and we open Christmas presents on Christmas Day now because that is when we get together.  Watching Christmas movies on Hallmark has become a tradition too.

Sunday Stealing- For those who celebrate Christmas #1

 

For those who celebrate Christmas #1

 

 What’s your favorite thing about the holidays?  My favorite thing about Christmas is the Christmas

lights and music, cards, goodwill, spending time with family.  So many things.  I love giving gifts. 

Most of all, celebrating the birth of Jesus.

Do you send out Christmas cards and if so how many do you send?  I do, not as many anymore.  I 

am not even sure how many I send out.  I just go through my address book.

Be honest: holiday newsletters. Love ‘em or hate ‘em?  hate 'em, you see a lot of this stuff on 

facebook already, so it is just a letter about stuff you already know, but even if I do not see, 

things on facebook, I  still do not enjoy them.

Be honest: photo cards. Love ‘em or hate ‘em?  I love them.  We never do them, but I love

getting them.

How soon do you start shopping?  Usually right around Thanksgiving.  

Real or fake tree?  We have a fake tree, but I got a real wreath this year and it is in the house

for the fresh tree smell.

When do you put up your tree?  The day after Thanksgiving.  The outside lights go up before that.

When do you take down your tree?  January 1.  Then I clean house really good and get ready to go

back to work.

Describe your typical tree (size, decorations, type)  My tree is about 6' I guess with all kinds of

different ornaments.  My main colors are gold and burgundy as far as balls, garland and

bows, we have colored lights and then the ornaments are all colors.  Here is our tree from

this year.

What do you top your tree with?  an angel

Do you put Christmas lights outside your house?  yes

Is there a wreath hanging on your door?  yes

Do you hang up stockings?  little ones for the dogs.

Your favorite Christmas Movie(s)  It's a Wonderful Life, but have you guys seen Last Christmas?

I saw it this year for the first time and it was hilarious and sad.  I loved it.  It features of the music

of Wham and the story is so good.

Be honest: A Christmas movie you hate  I didn't hate it, but last year I watched Holiday Inn...it is 

a friend's favorite Christmas movie, so we decided to give it a try.  I didn't love it.

Favorite Christmas Song(s)  Oh Holy Night, Mary Did You Know, White Christmas

Be honest: If I hear this/these Christmas songs again I will throw up  All I want for Christmas is You.  

They just play it too much.

Give or Receive?  Give!

Eggnog or Mulled Cider?  Egg nog, but I like both.

Ham or Turkey?  We have both at Christmas, but I would prefer to just have turkey at

Thanksgiving and ham at Christmas,  but Josh does not like ham.

Saturday 9- Happy Holidays!

 

Happy Holidays!

Saturday 9: Happy Holidays! (from the archives)


1. As you can see, Sam loved giving her annual wish list to Santa. Yet some children are reluctant to climb into Jolly Old St. Nick's lap. Did you enjoy the tradition or were you shy? Or did you by pass it altogether -- either because you wrote him a letter or because your family didn't celebrate Christmas?  I was pretty shy.  My parents took me a few times, but I mostly wrote letters.

2. Are you currently on the Naughty or Nice list? How did you get there?  Nice.  I am just a nice person.

3. Did you ship any gifts to friends and family this year? If so, which one traveled the farthest? no

4. Did you buy yourself a gift this year?  I always do.  I got a new dryer and lots of goodies from bath and body as well as some lotions from Victoria's Secret, some make-up that was half off at Ulta and new gloves and scarf to go with my new coat.

5. What's your favorite holiday-themed movie? Have you seen it yet this year?  Last year I watched Meet Me in St. Louis for the first time.  I have seen it this year.  Love it.  I also love It's A Wonderful Life...haven't seen that one yet.

6. Thinking of movies, Christmas is lucrative for Hollywood. Have you ever gone to a movie theater on Christmas Day?  no, I did that on Thanksgiving once,  but not Christmas.

7. Have you ever suffered an embarrassing moment at the company Christmas party?  I do not typically attend parties.

8. What's your favorite beverage in cold weather?  hot chocolate

9. Share a memory from last Christmas.  We took my mom and went to see The Nutcracker.

Sunday Stealing- COVID questions

 

COVID questions

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Day 1 of serious isolation behavior:

I am not sure how to answer this, but I am assuming it means what were some

of the behaviors I experienced during isolation?  I could not concentrate at all.

 I would try to read and I did not know what was going on in the story and had

 to stop.  I watched a lot of covid coverage.  That lasted a little while and then I

was able to read and carry on in peace.

2. First trip you had to cancel.  I haven't had to cancel any trips.

3. Other trips canceled    none, we do not go anywhere.

 
4. Last trip out of town before isolation.   St. Louis to see a baseball game

I guess.

5. Farthest from home since isolation.  to the doctor about 30 minutes away.

6. Last Meal sitting in a restaurant before Isolation.   I do not remember

7. How many books have you read? 71

8. First event you didn’t attend due to virus.  The first canceled event was a woman's

Christian conference I always go to with my co-workers.  The first event that was

not canceled was my huband's family Christmas.  He is there now.  I am trying not

to get sick.

9. Date and event of last over 200-person event.  January 25th, 2020-  Les Miserables

10. Last live music event.  Les Miserables

11. Things you are eating more of since isolation.  salad, only because I eat those at work.

12. Things you are eating less of since isolation.  nothing really.

13. What restaurants have you gotten take-out meals from?  Tequila's (Mexican),

Five Spice (Chinese) and Applebees.

14. Have you found yourself bored in isolation?  not at all, I can entertain myself by reading,

watching movies or visiting with family.

15. Have you gained or lost weight?  nope and I worked out when I was home.

16. Do you drink alcohol?  no

17. If so, more or less in isolation? N/A

18. What entertainments have you explored?   MO Books to go...when the libraries closed

I freaked out. I heard about the online platform and checked out several from there.  It  is 

something I have continued even though our library is open.  I use both now.

19. Gotten into anything new?  Audiobooks, I had never listened to one before the pandemic.

 I love them.

20. Have you done crosswords? Board bames?  Jigsaw puzzles?  not really...just with the kids

at school.

21. Have you cleaned out some cabinet, drawer, closet, etc. thoroughly?  yes!

22. Are you spending about the same amount of money?  Maybe a little more since I am buying

online and paying for shipping.

23. Done Zoom, Facetime, etc. meetups?  Zoom meetings 

24. Had a social occasion with a small group of people you consider safe?  Thanksgiving

with my mom and Karl, Josh and myself.  We did not get sick.

25. Did you vote? In Person? On Election Day?  I voted in person on election day.  Everyone was

masked and I felt safe.  I did not get sick.

Saturday 9: Santa Baby

 

Santa Baby

Saturday 9: Santa Baby (1987)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) In this song, Madonna refers to Santa as "baby," "honey" and "cutie." What's the most recent endearment someone called you? Sweet Heart, by one of my co-workers. I am no better, I call people Sweet Pea.

2) At the top of her list are a fur coat, a new convertible and a yacht. If you could receive any of those luxury items, which would you choose? A new convertible

3) She would like to decorate her tree with ornaments from Tiffany's. Do you have a favorite holiday ornament or decoration? My ornaments are all special to me in some way. I have handmade ornaments my Granie made... ornaments from online friends and real life friends and also from the kiddos over the years. I try to tell the story of each ornament each year.  Here is a picture of my Hallmark Corgi ornament.  I got this one for my corgi Mandy.

4) "Santa Baby" was written in 1953, before electronic payments. While her wish list includes blank checks, a 2017 survey revealed that 51% of consumers felt check writing was "a pain." Who received the last check your wrote? Who most recently gave you a check? I cannot remember the last check I wrote, but probably paying a bill. My mom probably wrote me a check for a gift or something.

5) Madonna has been a successful singer for decades, and 1985's "Into the Groove" is her top-seller. What's your favorite Madonna song? I like Material Girl, and Vogue. I liked Madonna a lot when I was younger, but not so much anymore.

6) Madonna was born in Bay City, MI, and traveled to New York City to find fame and fortune. When she first arrived, she supported herself by working at Dunkin' Donuts. What's your standard DD order? I am never able to go to Dunkin' Donuts or any other donut place for that matter.

7) The only Christmas card Sam has received so far this year is from her dentist. Have you received many cards this year? I have only received one also from a friend at school. Don't get me started on how no one sends Christmas cards anymore. I think it is sad.

8) Will you wrap many presents? Or do you prefer to use gift bags? I will wrap as many as I can. I like people to get to open a gift wrapped present, but I hate wrapping them.

9) Madonna recorded "Santa Baby" to benefit The Special Olympics. Here's your chance to plug a cause or organization that's near and dear to you. Convoy of Hope is a local organization that helps out people during natural disasters.  You will see them after hurricanes and tornadoes.  They go all over the world taking food and water to those that need it.