A NICE REASON TO TAKE A BREAK FROM DECORATING

Belle at Life of a Southern Belle has passed along this really cute and fun award. What a nice surprise in the midst of my Christmas decorating! After church and lunch (and a quick trip to the grocery store), I changed into comfy clothes and I'm running around in circles decorating. But...I stop periodically to blog. Hey, I've got my priorities ladies! Thanks Belle!

Here are the rules: Copy and paste the rules and instructions in your post. When posting on receiving the award, make sure you include who gave you the award and link it back to them. Post five winners and link it back to them as well. Post five of your addictions. Add the award image. Let your winners know you gave them an award by leaving them a comment on their blog.

(Just )Five of my MANY Addictions...in no particular order:

1. Duh! Blogging. Morning, noon and night!
2. Chocolate. Any kind, but dark chocolate is my very favorite.
3. Warm bubble baths with a good book.
4. I don't watch much TV, but I'm hooked on 24.
5. Red wine

I'm passing the award along to:
Jill at Jillian, Inc.
Deb at Lavender Chick
Joan at Joan's Journeys
Sandi at Holding Patterns
Tonja at Gatherings



Hugs and kisses,
Kat

THE WILL OF GOD

The will of God will never take you,

Where the grace of God cannot keep you,

Where the arms of God cannot support you

Where the riches of God cannot supply your needs,

Where the power of God cannot endow you.

The will of God will never take you,

Where the Spirit of God cannot work through you,

Where the wisdom of God cannot teach you,

Where the army of God cannot protect you,

Where the hands of God cannot mold you.

The will of God will never take you,

Where the love of God cannot enfold you,

Where the mercies of God cannot sustain you,

Where the peace of God cannot calm your fears,

Where the authority of God cannot overrule for you.

The will of God will never take you,

Where the comfort of God cannot dry your tears,

Where the Word of God cannot feed you,

Where the miracles of God cannot be done for you,

Where the omnipresence of God cannot find you.

Everything happens for a purpose.

We may not see the wisdom of it all now,

trust and believe in the Lord that everything is for the best.

~AUTHOR UNKNOWN

Happy Sunday!

From Kat

ON THE MENU TODAY: TURKEY

The bad part about going away for Thanksgiving is that you don't have any leftover turkey. I did bring home some of Mom's cornbread dressing and gravy and some of Sherry's cranberry relish though. But George and I are still wanting some turkey. So....I've just put a turkey breast in the crockpot and tonight we'll have turkey again. And...we'll get to have our turkey sandwiches tomorrow and then I'll make some turkey soup.

Since we traveled home yesterday, I didn't take part in Black Friday. I just can't do that anymore. But since I have to get out today to run a few errands, I'll try to pick up a few gifts too. Our tree is up and decorated and it looks kinda sad without any packages.

Christmas is coming FAST !

I.AM.NOT.READY (not even close!)

Are you?



From Kat

SOME OF MY FAVORITES

I love pulling out my Christmas tree ornaments. They bring back so many memories. Here's just a few. I might show more another time.

We used to go to New York City almost every year sometime around the first week in December. I loved picking up an ornament. I picked up the New York skyline one last year when we went with Bree and Jay.

Awwww...2000...remember how exciting it was!

I picked this one up the year two of my grandsons were born. Landon and Carson were born just a month apart.

I used to collect Santas and I have A LOT of Santa ornaments. I love this one's bear bedroom slippers.

When we moved to Nashville, I found both of these. It's hard to see in this photo, but the one on the right is wearing cowboy boots.

Both of these remind me of my Granny. She loved clowns.

My Mom and her friend Buddy made quite a few of these bears in 1984.

My Mom made this one too. In 1974...the year Eric was born. Isn't it beautiful!

Join in the fun. Show off some of your favorite ornaments.

From Kat

THANKSGIVING 2008

Our Thanksgiving was wonderful. I hope yours was too. i don't know about you, but I ate entirely too much!

Here's just a few photos taken at my sister Karen's house:

THE NIGHT BEFORE THANKSGIVING....

And I'm tired! How 'bout you?

I was up late last night and I'm feeling it tonight. I did manage to take a little nap on the 4 hour trip here. Thankfully, George did all the driving. We arrived just in time to get Miss Daisy walked, fed and settled before we met Eric, my Mom, and Bree and Jay for pizza.

I'm so glad Bree and Jay could be here. With her nursing schedule, it's always "iffy" at the Holidays. I only took one photo tonight and it's kinda blurry.

~~~~~~
Tonight, I helped Mom decorate her Christmas tree. My Mom loves angels so her tree is covered in angels of every size. It turned out really pretty. I can't believe I didn't think to take a picture ?? Hmmmmm...maybe it was because she offered me a diet coke and a brownie as soon as we finished. LOL
~~~~~~
I'm really excited to see everyone tomorrow. And I can't wait to have some of my Mom's cornbread dressing. It's so yummy!
~~~~~~
How cute is this? ~~~~~~
Happy Thanksgiving!
I hope your day is filled with family, food, fun and many memory making moments.


Kat

I THINK WE'RE READY

Well, I think we're ready. I baked two pumpkin pies, brownies and 24 of these babies for the children. I think they turned out pretty cute. Thanks Terri for the idea!

Miss Daisy started pouting when she saw the suitcases tonight. Just look at that sweet face!

She perked up and the tail started wagging when we told her she gets to go too.

~~~~~~

Yikes, it's after 1:00 am!!! Off to bed....


HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

From Kat

UP EARLY

I'm up early this morning...well, early for me! 6:30 Yikes! I had a bad migraine last night. Poor George was up tending to me. No headache this morning, but I'm so stiff. I'm supposed to play tennis at 10:30...we'll see....
~~~~~~

Isn't Maxine a "hoot"? I love her!

In our family, everyone brings dishes to my sister's for Thanksgiving lunch and then I also need to take something to our daughter Kim's for dinner. Since we have to travel 4 hours, I usually take desserts, wine, and a cooler of soft drinks. Lucky me!

So this afternoon, I will be baking pumpkin pies and making those cute Thanksgiving cookies Terri at Lakewood Manor posted about. I think the kids are gonna love them!
~~~~~~
While my pies and cookies are baking, I'll be do some more Christmas decorating. It's starting to look very Christmas-y around here. I love it! I know it's not Thanksgiving yet and I hated to take down my Fall decorations, but we're leaving in the morning. So.... I've got laundry and packing to do too. I guess I better keep on my tennis shoes 'cause I've got to keep moving today!
~~~~~~
Are the Holidays stressful for you? They are for me. A few days ago I was really really really feeling it. So many dynamics with a large family. So many people to try to please. But, I'm thankful I have family close enough that I can travel to be with. I love my family very much and I'm excited that I'll get to be with almost all of them on Thursday. This Thanksgiving I plan to focus on all my blessings. Thank you God!



From Kat

THIS AND THAT

What a gorgeous day today! They were predicting 60% chance of rain, but it's gorgeous. (We might get some rain later.) I thought tennis would be out today, but we played 3 fun sets and the temperature was perfect!

~~~~~~

I've finished cleaning all the shells we collected last week on our Marco Island trip. We found a lot of beauties, don't you think? We're going again in February, so next time I'm taking a bucket and a small rake and shovel so I can bring back a lot more. (Hey, Rhoda, are you ready to come see Miss Daisy again?) Smiles!

I love the little shiny ones...they look so pretty in a jar with the others.

Isn't our God awesome?!!! Oh, yes ma'am He is!

~~~~~~

BTW... Rhoda at Southern Hospitality has posted about the shells she found here in "my" paradise while we were off collecting shells in Marco Island. She also did a wonderful job of showing off our beautiful beaches.

~~~~~~

Pat at Back Porch Musings has passed along this really pretty award! I love it! If you've never visited Pat, you really should. She always has beautiful photos to share and her decorating is just amazing!

~~~~~~

See this? No...we're not moving.

My house looks a wreck right now. I've had George bring in most of the Christmas decorations from the garage and he lined them up in the hallway. I've started putting them in different rooms and now there's a mess e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e. What was I thinking?

I'd love to get a little bit done before we leave for our Thanksgiving trip and then I can finish up when we get back. I love the way the house looks AFTER everything is decorated, but right now? Not so much.

~~~~~~

Thanksgiving is coming FAST! Are you ready? I'm not. But, I'll be baking tomorrow.

From Kat

THANK YOU FOR BEING A FRIEND

It's almost Thanksgiving and we ALL have so much to be thankful for. Let's try to forget all the "mess" going on in our world and just be thankful!

And I am...for each and every one of YOU! Thank you for being my friend!



Thank you for being a friend
Traveled down the road and back again
Your heart is true
you're a pal and a confidant.
And if you through a party
Invited everyone you ever knew
You would see the biggest gift would be from me
And the card attached would say
thank you for being a friend.
~~~~~~
Speaking of friends.....












My sweet friend Lisa at Cranberry Flats
has passed along these two special awards. Thanks Lisa!





My sweet friend, Mari at My Little Corner of the World has passed on this beautiful and sweet award. Thanks Mari!


~~~~~~
I'm truly surprised and touched every time I receive an award. I'd like to pass these on to 10 others: Joan, Melissa, Terri, Tonja, Andi, Kari, Sandi, Rhonda , Jill....and last but not least, Miss Daisy's new bestest friend Rhoda.
~~~~~~
And...thanks Rhoda for your very sweet post about our home and the "paradise" where we live. Miss Daisy is missing you and Peter and is sending you hugs and kisses.



From Kat

THE PART ABOUT TRAVELING I HATE

Why, oh why, did I eat so much? And all the wine? And the 3 (yes 3!) ice cream cones? I'm not real happy with myself right now. I can feel another "funk" coming on. Funk City help!

Thanksgiving is right around the corner. What's a girl to do? Any ideas?



From Kat

WE'RE HOME!

Dorothy is right..."There's no place like home". It's wonderful to be back in our own bed and home with Miss Daisy.
~~~~~~
Rhoda and Peter left real early this morning since Rhoda had a volunteer committment. I think Miss Daisy is missing them. She's been standing at the window looking out a few times already.
~~~~~~
George and I were really able to enjoy ourselves knowing Miss Daisy was being taken care of with so much love.
A GREAT BIG THANK YOU to Rhoda and Peter! You guys are the best!!
~~~~~~





Guess what I'll be doing today?








Kat

OUR LAST FULL DAY

This morning we decided to go out for a big breakfast. We were directed to Hoot's. It's a local favorite tucked away in a small strip mall. What a find! The food was delicious and so inexpensive. Homemade breads so the toast was especially good.

We decided to drive over to Naples to spend the day...only 18 miles. A couple we met at dinner last night suggested a good place for pizza. Gino's Pizza on Davis. It was a very small place in yet another strip mall. Good pizza too. And...another inexpensive meal. Yeah!

We stopped to show Dick and Linda the beach in Naples and Linda and I took our shoes off and walked down to take a few photos. We saw dolphins VERY close to the shore jumping out of the water. Nope, no photo of that. Those guys were fast! None of us have ever seen them so close to the shore. A man on the beach said they were pushing the fish closer to shore to make them easier to catch. Hmmm...not sure... I love the tall palm trees...so different than the kind we have at home.

Shells everywhere on the beach!
I loved seeing the shells and collecting them, but I love our fluffy white sand better.



So gorgeous!
~~~~~~
Tonight we did some window shopping on 5th Avenue and stopped for Happy Hour at Bice. We had a fabulous dinner at Truluck's in Naples. Very very very good! If you're ever in Naples, you've gotta go there! When we got back to Marco Island, we played a few more card games and then did our packing. Tomorrow morning we head home. :-(



From Kat