Look What I Got!

Right before all the craziness hit, look what I got in the mail:

It's a cookbook from a tea restaurant in NY called "Alice's Tea Cup".  I won it from Kristie over at The Kristie Sessions.  She was having a giveaway and I was the lucky winner.

It's a beautiful cookbook and I figure that there are some homemade Scones in my future.  When I get around to it, I promise to share the recipe.

Have a Happy New Year to all my blogging buddies.

Warmest Thanks

I want to thank all of you who left a comment of support for my father's passing.  You kind words and virtual hugs were truly felt.  You helped me navigate through this new territory.  I am grateful.

I would also like to thank all my friends and family who sent cards, cookies, visited, attended his Memorial Mass and gave hugs when needed most.  You will all be in my heart forever.

Thank you all.

With love,

Linda

For Dad

My father passed away on December 10.  Although he had been in declining health for many years, it still came as a surprise to us when it really happened and it still surprises me every morning, when I wake up and realize he's still gone.

Due to his long standing health issues, we have all had a long time to reflect on him and his gifts to us.  I know each of us has our own special list of what we would like to thank him for thoughout the years.  As I mulled this over and over, one thing keeps rising to the top as his greatest gift.

The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother
 -Theodore Hesburgh

I found this quote many years ago and tore it out of the magazine to save it.  I've kept it in a little book all these years.  I'm not really sure why, but I knew I would need it one day.

As we were growing up, there was one thing of which we were all certain.  Dad loved Mom. 

He was not a talkative or outgoing man,  Many of his favorite activities were solo activities.  But when it came to my mother, his feelings were very clear and all four of us knew this and felt this everyday of our lives.

So dad,  thank you for everything and mostly, thank you for loving mom...deeply, truly, completely.  Without even knowing it, you gave us all the strongest core for a good and happy life.  

(This is how I like to think of them...laughing and hugging.)

Christmas Project #1

It's been a busy Christmas decoration week-end.  I got my garland and lights done outside (picture soon) and my tree is up and decorated.  Whew!  It was a lot of work.

I'm working on my mantle, which you may or may not know, is always a challenge for me.  I've updated the frames that I bought for Fall.  My first creative use of them was this:

And now they have their Christmas clothes on and they look like this:

Something simple, but festive.  I used some of my holiday card stock and embossed in green using a couple of my holiday stamps.

 I'll provide a full mantle photo when I get my wreath done.  

E-Zines (Although I hate that name and hope I just made it up)

Let's say it's Saturday afternoon and time for lunch.  What do I do?  I make a sandwich and grab a magazine .  Don't fully understand it, but I love to eat lunch while reading a magazine.  Must be some deep, dark pshychosis.

At work...I can be found frequently eating lunch at my desk.  I'm not happy about this fact, but it is the truth. 

I used to scramble around the office looking for any magazine I could find.  Typically they were automotive or technology based publications.  Not ideal, but they were better than nothing.  Recently though, the supply seems to have dried up around here.

So I turned to the Internet for my fix.  Most online magazines are crammed with info requiring lots of clicking to find what you are interested in and then it's hard to find your way back to where you started.  They are kind of a cluster*%^# of information.  Not exactly fufilling my need.  I want to turn pages.  I want a traditional photo and article layout.  Is that so hard??
Then I found this (Oh happy day, oh happy day):

Sweet Paul Magazine....is a real on-line magazine, where you actually get to turn the pages.  You don't have to dig down to find the rest of an article.  You just turn the next page.  Brilliant.

And oh my, oh my, the beauty and deliciousness filling the pages is indescribable.  You really need to see it to believe it.  The recipes sound so good.  The photos and styling are just amazing.  There are even some great crafting ideas. 

So far, there has been a Spring Issue, a Fall Issue and now this beautiful Holiday Issue. Go grab a sandwich and pull up your computer.  You are going to love this.