LASTS

Wow!

It is the last day of the month.
It is the last day of the year.
It is the last day of the decade.
It is the end of a season.

Happy New Year sweet friends! Thanks for being a part of my life. I wish for us all a wonderful 2010.




Hugs from the beach!
Kat

A NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION I CAN KEEP

I'm still rushing around trying to catch up after Christmas. Whew! My head is spinning and my feet and legs are hurting. I couldn't wait to get on my slippers tonight after wearing boots all day. Silly me wore them to my haircut, lunch with a friend and then for hours while I was running errands. Yikes! What was I thinking!

We have two parties tomorrow night and then one on New Year's Day. How about you? I really wanted to find something new to wear, but I didn't have any luck. Pooh!

Happy New Year's everyone!





Hugs from the beach!
Kat

MY WHEELS ARE SPINNING...HOW ABOUT YOURS?

Mom and Sherry left this morning after breakfast :-( We had a good time, but it's always hard to say goodbye. Big sighs!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Gosh, I thought things would slow down after Christmas. How about you? I've spent today in my jammies racing around the house trying to do ten things at a time and all I'm doing is spinning my wheels. I really just want to sit here at the computer and visit my blog friends and facebook friends. I just hate it when I don't know what's happening. Know what I mean? BUT, there's lots to do that I've put off for awhile so I'll be a good girl and try to stay off the computer. Hmmmm....maybe I can just take a few breaks now and then....

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I just downloaded all the photos from our Girls Getaway trip to Bellingrath Gardens for their MAGIC CHRISTMAS IN LIGHTS. It was even more special than last year since Bree was able to go with us. It was a cold night but we didn't care.

I took lots and lots, but here's just a "few":

Hoping to visit everyone soon. Don't forget me, okay?

Big Hugs!

Kat

CHRISTMAS DAY

Our Christmas was wonderful. I hope yours was too.

It does seem like it's a lot of decorating, shopping, wrapping, cooking, partying, etc. and then...bam...it's over so quickly. I sure wish I had a "pause button" and maybe a "rewind button" too.

We spent a lot of time in the kitchen preparing food and at the table eating...waaaaay too much! Miss Daisy isn't a beggar, but she does give you those looks that say "please drop something...a bit of ham, maybe?". I must admit I'm a sucker for those looks. LOL
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Girls getaway! Tomorrow morning Mom, Sherry and I are driving to Mobile for the weekend to visit Bellingrath Gardens and Home for their Magic Christmas in Lights. We went last year and had a wonderful time. We're so excited because Bree is meeting us there.

From the website:
"The holiday tradition continues as Bellingrath Gardens and Home celebrates Magic Christmas in Lights. Stroll through over 3 million sparkling lights and over 902 displays throughout the 65 acre Garden estate. The Bellingrath Home is decorated in its holiday finery and poinsettias encompass the Gardens. Nightly choral performances are held on the South Terrace of the Bellingrath Home."

Can't wait.


Hugs,
Kat

OUR CHRISTMAS COOKIE TRADITION

Christmas 2009 Spritz Cookie Bake
The three of us silly girls getting ready to begin.
The cookie press that always gives us fits until we get it going.....

Success! We love these cookies...not too sweet...just right! As you can see we don't spend a lot of time decorating. LOL

Pooped! But happy! I love having Mom and Sherry here every year. We have the most fun.

We sure missed you Bree! We have a tin of cookies for you and will bring them with us on Saturday.

On our way to the candlelight Christmas Eve Service now....

Merry Christmas everyone!

Hugs,

Kat

OH, I SURE HOPE SO!

You KNOW I'm hoping for some chocolate in my stocking this year!

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My Mom and Sherry arrived today and we've had lots of fun already.

Each year, my Mom, Sherry and I (and Bree when she can be here) put on our silly hats and Christmas aprons and make and decorate cookies. It's one of our family traditions. Well tomorrow is our baking day and sadly Bree can't be here again this year...sigh!

I love Spritz Cookies because they aren't real sweet. Perfect with a cup of coffee!

Here's our recipe:

Spritz Cookies
2 cups butter, room temperature
1 egg
3-1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup cornstarch

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Using an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in egg and vanilla. Add flour and cornstarch and mix just until blended. Transfer dough to a cookie press. Press into desired shapes onto an ungreased baking sheets. Bake until light brown and firm to touch, about 10 minutes. Transfer to racks and cool. Makes about 10 dozen. Store in airtight container.

And we're all looking forward to the Christmas Eve service at church tomorrow night.

Afterwards we will have dinner and then ride around and look at Christmas lights.

What's your plans for Christmas Eve?



Merry Christmas y'all!


Hugs!
Kat

LOOKING BACK

One of the things we did at my Mom's party was look at old photo albums. Scary! Fun (or should I say f-u-n-n-y), but mostly scary. And kinda sad :-(

'Cause time really does fly!

And boy do we change!

Here I am holding my nephew Jarred. I think I'm around 25 years old....and skinny! And definitely NOT blonde. LOL And just look at my handsome hubby! (This one was taken before we met.)

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We had a wonderful time getting to see ALL of the family, except Bree and Jay. They both had to work. At least Bree was home last weekend. Plus, I'll see her the day after Christmas.

It was wonderful getting to see our three married children and our nine grandchildren. I took lots of photos. I'll share some soon.

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My Mom and Aunt Sherry arrive tomorrow to be with us for Christmas. You know what that means, right? Food, wine, games, fun, and laughter.
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My computer time is limited this week, so if I don't get to visit you before Christmas, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas filled with lots of memory making moments. Remember the reason for the season in the midst of all the fun.

Merry Christmas sweet friends!

Hugs,

Kat

CHRISTMAS HERE AND CHRISTMAS THERE

Just a quick post. We're traveling around seeing all of our family and giving our gifts...here, there and everywhere! Santa's got nothing on us!

I feel so blessed to be able to spend time with our children and all 9 of our grandchildren during this special time of the year.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Hugs!

Kat

SWEET TIMES, SWEET FRIENDS, SWEET SWEETS

Life sure is sweet...especially around the Holidays.

I baked a Chocolate Chip Cake this afternoon to take to a party tonight. Yep, BIG surprise that I would make something chocolate, right?!

I sugared some fresh greenery to decorate the cake. Easy and it really added a Christmas touch, don't 'cha think?

Speaking of sweet...I got the recipe for this cake way back in 2007 from my very sweet blog friend Kim at Dear Daisy Cottage. Her blog is a must read for me. I could gush and tell you why I love her, but go and see for yourself. You'll be hooked too.

If you need an easy, but always yummy cake for the Holidays....and one that EVERYONE loves, here's the recipe:

CHOCOLATE CHIP CAKE
1 box chocolate cake mix

1 package INSTANT chocolate pudding

1 cup sour cream

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup oil

3 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1- 12oz bag of miniature chocolate chips

Lightly spray a bundt pan. Mix above together in a bowl. Pour into bundt pan. Bake @350 for 45-50 minutes. Cool. Sprinkle powdered sugar if desired.

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We had a wonderful time tonight at Max and Vickie's house.

Rita, Vickie, me and Linda

Don, George, Jack, me and Rita

Linda, Jack, George, me, Vickie holding Callie, Max, Rita and Don
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Yesterday a few of my sweet friends gathered for lunch at The Beach Club. Love these girls!

Back Row: Dale, Erika, Carol, Me, Lynda, Kathy and Jeanette

Front Row: Tania, Jo S. and Jo L.

We all "strike a pose"!

Talk about sweet....this chocolate pecan pie was almost too sweet. Is that possible?!

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I'll be away for a few days having an early Christmas with my family. Smiling!

MERRY CHRISTMAS sweet friends!

Hugs!

Kat

NO SNOW HERE

Living in Florida = NO snow. Very little cold weather. And definitely NO snowmen.

Unless you get creative.

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We've had so much rain lately...it's been crazy. But the sun was out today and it certainly put some "pep in my step" while I was doing a bit more Christmas shopping. I love living here at the beach, but during the Holidays I sure would like for it to be nippy. And I dream of making a real snowman.

But alas...there's not a snowball's chance in "you-know-where" for that to happen, but I can dream, right?

If you get to make a snowman, think of me, okay?

Merry Christmas y'all!

Hugs,

Kat