Out With The Old.....

Tomorrow is New Year's Eve.  Traditionally a night of festivities, of celebrating the end of one year and anticipating the arrival of another.  A new year.  And for me (and I'm sure most of you) it's a time for reflection and pause.  A time to think about things that occurred in the year about to leave us.  A time to promise you'll do better in the coming year.  That is where those 'made with good intentions' New Year's Resolutions kick in.  I think they are promises we make ourselves to change.  Whether it be changing our diet, our bad habits, or even simply changing a routine...we ALL promise ourselves what we like to think as POSITIVE change will enrich our lives and allow us to begin the new year with ambition, with hope, and with happiness and peace within.

In my younger years, there was NO WAY I'd let a New Year arrive without staying awake to celebrate that 'ball' dropping.  And then I would hear fireworks.  I'd go to sleep and waken in the sunlight the next morning fairly certain that monumental things would occur this brand new year.

2011 for me was a year filled with change.  Change that I did not instigate, but change that caused my family's life to be altered.  This change also gave me time to do something I had not done in MANY years.  The change was the ending of my job.  I actually had the summer 'off'.  I was able to enjoy the summer - the planting in my garden, the ability to sit in the sun with a good book or glass of wine; the ability to take my dogs for walks at times they would normally have been alone.  It took me about a month to get used to being at home.  But you know something, once I got the 'hang' of it, I LOVED IT!  I baked, cooked, cleaned, renovated things in the house, went on vacation to New England (see earlier post) and found a place that my soul told me was where I belonged.  I realized what I wanted to do with my life.  We have decided that we need to 'go for it' and try to make that a reality. 

This new year hopefully will see that life I am longing for...come to fruition.  I have done a lot of things in my life that I'm ashamed of; things that I can't imagine I did in looking back on them.  I have two great sons that I am so very proud of, and a husband who supports whatever it is I decide to do.  I am blessed with wonderful friends; and some of them longtime age-old friends (not OLD in age, but friends who have been with me since my childhood and early adult years).  Those kind of friends are with you forever.  If you don't have someone in your life like that, you have no idea what you are missing. 

So, as we wind down 2011 and gear up for 2012, I wish for all of you good health, peace within, happiness and self-fulfillment in whatever it is you strive for that makes your life complete.  Never live your life for others totally and always find time to discover YOU.  You will find the greatest joy in looking out for yourself.  Only when you are happy with yourself can you be happy with others.  I had to learn that the hard way.  I guess I'm a slow learner.  I read this quote the other day and it hit home for me:  "You must make a CHOICE to take a CHANCE or your life will never CHANGE."  So true, my friends.  So true.  Think about it.

Happy New Year!!

Merry Christmas!

This morning it is already 61 degrees outside.  Last night it was suitable tee-shirt and shorts (and Rainbows) weather.  Hardly conducive to singing Christmas carols and looking at holiday lights.  Right?  Well, unless you live in a tropical, always-warm locale when palm trees outweigh Christmas trees during the holiday season....

Today I have to finish up my stocking stuffer shopping and get the kids their Christmas 'bling'.  And I will have one last baking session before tomorrow night, when it's The Feast of the Seven Fishes.  Grease all the way, my friends!

For those of you unfamiliar with this 'fishy' tradition, check out this site:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feast_of_the_Seven_Fishes

Hey, it's an Italian thing.

Santa visited the nursing home yesterday.  We had a lot of fun.  Had to go in the afternoon while the 'old' kids were still awake.  usually after dinner, they turn in for the night, even if it's only 6 pm!  Being 'senior' children, they are so entitled.  Here, Santa is wishing my mom a "Merry Christmas".  She thought he was her brother, Jimmy.  Then she thought I WAS her brother, Jimmy.  Oh mom....

Here's wishing you and yours the merriest of Christmases, and the most wonderful New Year anyone could have.  Please share in enjoying our Christmas with us:

 Here's our main Great Room tree - filled with collectible ornaments from our travels all over the place.

 This is 'the kitchen tree'.  It is decorated with food and drink ornaments, including mini wine bottles and corks.  The star at the top is a "Carolina Snowflake" from the Gift Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway - handmade.  Check 'em out:  www.brsbaket.com

 Our Colonial Christmas Dining Room complete with hurricane shades, fruit, berries and grapevine as the centerpiece.  Very Colonial/New England.  I like that.  (notice the Wine Santa in the corner?)

Notice, no fire....FIRST OF ALL, way too hot.  Second, Santa would burn his butt coming down the chimney.  Don't want to hurt Santa, do we?

So, from my family to you and yours, Buon Natale, Feliz Navidad, Buona Festa, Merry Christmas!!!

Jeannette, Paul, Jonathan, Keith, Daisy, Stormy and Buster Pompi!!!!

Giving Back

Today I did something that I have never ever done before.  I volunteered to give manicures at the nursing home where my mom is.  Now, before I started going to nail salons and only having my nails in either a neutral or French manicure, I did my own manicures and as a result, had MANY bottles of different colored polish.  So, I loaded the polishes, some remover, and some "aromatherapy' hand lotion and headed to see them!

I got there about 2:00, and left at almost 5:00.  During that time, I did a dozen manicures - all different.  I evan gave a manicure to a male resident.  He would not let me polish his nails, and I showed him ALL different colors.  He was just not a good sport.  So, I filed his nails, and massaged his hands with aromatherapy lotion and he loved it.  So many of the other little ladies loved having their nails done.  Most got polish, some did not, and they ALL got the hand massages.  They were SOOO sweet.  One little lady asked me how long I had been doing nails.  My response,, 'About an hour'.  She didn't get it.

So, I was about ready to leave, and this one little lady rolled in and asked "do you have any openings this afternoon?".  Oh. My. Gosh.  She thought she was at a nail salon.    I told her, yes, I had an opening just for her.  She got the bamboo colored polish.  They all were chattering away, none of it making any sense (at least I don't think it did) and we talked about Pearl Harbor Day.  I asked them if they remembered it and what they were doing then.  One lady said she had just gotten married.  One said she was still in high school.  It was then I realized that ALL THESE people were once children; teenagers; young adults.  They had lives. families, laughter, JOBS, and a story.  I might decide to sit down one of these days with each of them and let them tell me their stories.  I'm sure they would have some very interesting tales to tell...

All in all, I had the most wonderfully fulfilling afternoon.  Did I get my house cleaned?  Nope.  Did I do any Christmas shopping?  No.  Did I get any decorations up?  no.   But I did something even better.  I turned a dozen or better "extremely" senior citizens into painted ladies!  Ladies with good looking manicures.  And I got more out of the visit than they did.  I got this warm, wonderful feeling in my heart and soul.  I gave something back.  And took much more away.

See you in two weeks, ladies!  And remember, Santa will be arriving on the 22nd.  Buon Natale!!!!

Highway to Hartsville

Today was full of adventure.  First of all, Chris and his team showed up bright and early to put the grout in the backsplash tiles he installed for me yesterday - in both bathrooms and the kitchen.  They look great!  I was going to Sam's to meet Michelle Bachmann when she got there on the Columbia leg of her book signing tour.  I never made it. 

Paul got home at 12:10, and we were out the door by 12:30 and on our way to Hartsville to spend the afternoon with our friends Joyce and Miakel.  We were supposed to go this morning for the parade, but as Paul had to work, we didn't make it.  As it turns out, it's a good thing.  If we had gone, the tile STILL wouldn't be finished.  After nearly 6 months' renovation time, I don't think I could've waited another day.

Anyway, we got to Hartsville at 2:00, and promptly headed downtown.  There's this cool 'junk' store called Mandevilla and I love to plunder in it.  Bought myself a beautiful wrought iron candle sconce for $4.00!  Across the street from Mandevilla is a place called The Vacuum Center.  It is full of refinished furniture.  Walked thru there, but didn't see a thing.  After a few other stops, Joyce told us we were going to have seafood at Shiloh Fish House.  It was near a little town called Patrick.  It felt like we were out in the middle of NOWHERE!  Homes all had their colored Christmas lights in the windows, on the roofs, in the bushes, the trees, and the mailboxes.  Very festive. 

The dinner we had was phenomenal!  I had oysters, shrimp, scallops, flounder and fries.  No calories in any of that, I'm sure.

We left right after dinner at 7 pm, and rolled into the driveway promptly at 8.  As I write this, I am watching halftime at the Clemson-Va. Tech game on ESPN.

Happy trails, everyone.  Until next time......

Ciao - buona notte....a presto!