It beginning to look a lot like Christmas

As I write the dreaded white stuff is piling up outside my door and making mayhem of the local roadways. Blogger won't let me share photos today, so you will have to take my word for it instead :(. My plans were to finish my Christmas shopping tonight, however I will wait and take my chances next week in the floods that are expected instead.

I still have all my Christmas baking, candy making, and general kitchen mess to do so it will happen this weekend instead. Can already smell that peanut brittle and fudge can't you? Hoping to get a few dozen rolls in the freezer too if I get time.

Mostly have the presents wrapped except for those last minute items currently showing in transit tracking numbers but still have stocking shopping left to do. Think I will go the Dollar Store route this year for something a bit easier on the pocket book.

We have a new housemate for a indefinite period of time as Prince's daughter has moved in with us. Not exactly what I had in mind, but what's a girl to do? Will muddle through one way or another.

The new baby Princess is growing like a weed, already up to 10.5lb and had her first shots with Mom shedding more tears than baby. She LOVES the lights and all the sparkle at Grammy's house so that helps a bit with the lacking Christmas spirit here for sure. Prince and his new wife are flying in next week, which will be a surprise for Princess as she was told they couldn't afford to fly this year. Rotten liars we are, but it will make our Christmas a bit more special.

In case I get lost in a drift, I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. May you be surrounded by love, peace, warmth, and safety wherever you are this season!

Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing everyone a fabulous holiday filled with family, love, food, and fun. We are off to a funeral so have postponed our celebration for this year. I am very thankful for the wonderful friends this blog has allowed me to have in my life. I am extremely grateful for my wonderful family and am truly blessed.

The Wicked Witch isn't dead after all....

Holy time warp Batman! Where has the time gone? Well, perhaps these will give you a tiny clue of what is happening around the old Gazing Ball homestead.


First of all was my son's wedding in July. Yeah, I know its already October, but I don't recover like I used to ya know?





Here are my beautiful babies (complete with one on the way). Clean up purdy good for kids I think. No one can rock camo at a wedding like my son!


The entire gang for the obligatory photo session, but frankly they are boring. We do better if you don't stick us in a line up.



Sealed with a kiss! The outdoor ceremony went off without a hitch. All the hard work on the flowers made it a color extravaganza! All in all, it was amazing and the couple is happily living the married life.




Now, if that weren't enough excitement for one year, hold on to your hats. Let me introduce you to our new family member! Welcome Miss Summer!

So, I'll spare you the gory details for the zillion other reasons I have been absent. Maybe life will settle into a dull roar shortly. Hope everyone is enjoying fall and is ready for a wicked Halloween as well!

I am getting too old for this...

Well, it's official. I now have two adult married children. Seems like this day was always just a far away thought.

Now, how I have managed for 6 days on only a total of 12 hours sleep and over 2200 miles of driving is beyond me. Let's just say that my focus is a bit fuzzy, so excuse me while I run off for a nap!

Wild ride

So sorry to appear to have dropped off the map everyone. The last few months have been total chaos with no end in sight. I left my old job, started a new one, and am frantically doing last minute preparations for my son's wedding next weekend. I will be out of touch for awhile, but still try to swing by and read others as I can. Forgive me if I don't take time to comment while I am there. Hope everyone is having a terrific summer!

Its a boy!

No this is not an optical illusion friends. Meet the new "pocket puppy". We are still having a war over his name. Several choices exist, but let me explain how he came to be. As usual, I didn't chose this animal, I didn't ask for this animal, I didn't want another darn animal. Seriously, we already look like Old McDonald's farm around here! Last weekend, I was out pulling weeds when my Prince came to tell me the neighbors were here looking for Princess to show her what they found. Apparently, the neighbor dropped her pen next to her car, and when she bent down to retrieve it she noticed this white creature under the car. At first she screamed thinking it was a mouse or rat, but closer inspection revealed a tiny Chihuahua puppy. With a little coaxing, they were able to lure him out of hiding to safety.

We spent hours canvasing the neighborhood for his owner to no avail. He had a dreadful runny nose, but otherwise seemed very healthy and spunky. Very lucky pup as it was 90 degrees that day and the blacktop was scorching. So, Princess shows up at my house insisting we must keep him as the neighbor has MASSIVE playful dogs which didn't mix well with this tiny man. Next day, she took him to our vet who determined he is about 5 weeks old and weighs a grand total of 14 ounces. Antibiotics for the respiratory infection, possible future health issues due to balance, significant soft spot in his head, on and on. Since we lost our beloved Ralph, and Princess already has 3 dogs plus baby on the way, she pulled out the sad eyes and started coaxing my Prince to assume Dad duty for the little man.

His coloring is solid white except the mass of brown over his left eye and ear, some brown near his nose, and this one tiny brown spot on this head near his right ear. Immediately the name list began to grow. Princess started with Dot, which I vetoed as a sissy name for a boy. Prince insists on Spot or Fluffy, which Princess hates. Then Princess threw out Rocky, which is rather fitting for the obvious fights he has already had to endure in his short life to arrive here, and who knows what in the future. I have labeled him Trouble (and piss ant but not sure I want to yell that one in the backyard to call him in) for the little monster is faster than a speeding bullet and has zero fear. Takes on the other dogs, clueless that the 15 pound cat can knock him into next week, climbs on and over anything even if it takes him 20 tries-just plain trouble no matter how you slice it.

Now seriously, is this not a face only a mother can love or what?

He has already assumed his location as king of the hill, and no we didn't put him there, he four wheeled himself up Prince's chest like Spiderman.

So, for the first time ever, we are at a complete impasse as a family of what in the world to name this little creature. Any other brilliant suggestions out there in blog land? He can run like the wind, loves anything fuzzy, barks like a miniature squeaky toy, and is a snuggler when a nap attack strikes. He has also got to be the most squirmy dog ever seen. Poor Princess accidentally dropped him from her arms yesterday, which fortunately he is fine. Darn dog simply won't hold still unless he is sound asleep, but Princess is SO beating herself up over the accident she is still hysterical. Darn pregnancy hormones don't help poor girl.

Well, any suggestions? Votes? Comments like are you out of your flipping mind girl? And for the record, yes, I am.....

Its a girl!

Princess is finally developing the "baby bump" and we recently learned that she is carrying a girl!