Even at the ripe old age of 11, my childhood dog, Sophie, still acts like a puppy these days. I still remember picking her out of a litter of eight black lab females. Here she is all grown up…
Doesn’t she look spectacular? However, she was not doing well a few months ago.
So tell me, how do you spend your New Years Eve?
I have never been into the whole party thing and kissing at midnight. I think it is fun once in a while, but I am more of a home-body these days and enjoy sitting on the couch or in the bed, snuggled up tight with my hubby, watching movies and eating popcorn. That is probably my ideal way to spend any evening, not just New Years.
I went home for a few days right before Christmas to attend my grandmother’s funeral. It was a very sad time and a quite stressful day setting up all the flowers and pictures, then standing in a line to shake the hands of 100+ people.
It is amazing how cold the air outside can be in New Hampshire when it is 11 degrees. Despite the clear skies and sun pouring down, bouncing off the 30 foot high piles of snow (it might sound like an exaggeration, but I don’t care, it’s my blog), making it too bright to venture outside without sunglasses. I thought my face would freeze and fall off my skull when I was met with a stiff gust of wind.
As expected, I got an earful yesterday from my father for calling it a bulldozer in one of my most recent posts: Let’s Go For A Ride. I think his exact words were, “It’s nawt ah bull-dozah, ya dope, it’s ah load-ah.” I think I’ve been in California for so long that my back-home/small-town/dash-of-hill-billy might have worn off. But that’s why I call my folks every Sunday afternoon…so I don’t forget.
My Daddy asked me if I wanted to go to the diner with him to have some coffee. I was about to get on a plane and not see him until he, my mom and brothers head out for our annual rafting trip in July, so I was more than willing to go.
It is all too revealing to be at a funeral for someone that you are related to by only a few movements. People you haven’t seen in years are seeing you in a very weak state of mind and body. Your emotions run rampant and it is something that you struggle to control.
Tasker Family Christmas Tree
Well, here’s your Christmas present.
Like I said, you’ll either love it or you’ll hate it. I’m hoping its the former, because I spent entirely too much time setting it up. I’m hoping its the latter because I’m going to spend entirely too much time tweaking it for you.
Call me when you get a chance and I’ll give you the grand tour.
Curtis
Nicki & Sophie, all tuckered out
The countdown is over and December 25th is finally here! I hope that everyone has a wonderful Christmas this year, surrounded by family and friends.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
Her house was an after school special…
Whenever I wanted to sit with her in the living room
I was welcomed by her lay-z-boy
Whenever I had a bad day and needed to vent
She was willing to lend an ear
Whenever I wanted time to stand still
We watched her birdfeeders get ransacked by squirrels
Whether we talked or watched Bonanza
A smile, an appreciative response, a significant laugh
All of her was always within reach
Yet she was more than a part of my life
She was an unwavering cornerstone in my childhood
She is someone I think of often
Someone I choose to remember in a very particular way
A way that makes me smile when I reminisce about
A blue sweater:
Baby soft with a white zipper and floppy hood
To fit the long, thick pony tail I frequently wore
She let me choose the style, she picked the color
And then she went to work with her knitting needles
When it was finished, the silky yarn wrapped around my arms
I zipped it up and flipped the hood over my head, a perfect fit
She watched me from her window that night as I rode my bike
Up and down the driveway wearing my favorite blue sweater
When I get bored at work or home and I find myself staring at the computer screen, looking for something to pass the time, I find myself at this site: ALL MY FAVES.
It has some of my favorite games to play from when I was little. Check it out!
