I wish you all a wonderful New Year.

Be safe.

See you next year.

Nanny

Preconceived Notion

I chose this cold and rainy day to take down the christmas tree and pack up the decorations. I don't enjoy this task but I do feel good once it is complete.

The process starts with me making a huge mess all over the house. Empty boxes and sacks everywhere.

The one good thing about this job is the movie or recorded shows I watch while working to keep me company. Hence the title: preconceived notion. I am guilty of having these.......
Such as my opinion of Glee. I don't like that kind of music and I don't like Jane Lynch.....preconceived from ????? Last night I recorded two episodes from last season and decided to give them a try. I had been briefed on the highlights of the show last time I visited Solar. What kind of music did I think it was? The music is great, I sang along and enjoyed every minute of it. Why did I think I wouldn't like Jane? She plays a great role and I laughed at all of her lines.....

The decorations are put away....YEAH! I laughed and sang through it all!!! Now I have to wait a week to see Glee!

Have a great day all!

Nanny

Merry Christmas

What's a girl gotta do to get a bite of meat around here?

I'm Confused!

When a recipe calls for 16 oz. of shredded cheese...does that mean start with a 16 oz. block of cheese and shred it?

Another one says 10 oz of cheese shredded....same question....10 oz before or after shredding!!

This always confuses me! HELP!

Let The Cooking Begin!

Today is the day!

The shopping is done!

The groceries are bought (I think)


I love this day and and am so excited for my family to arrive!

Let the cooking begin!

I Wish You Peace

The glow around the steeple seemed to be singing.

Peace on Earth, good will toward men.

Ready to Eat!

My favorite find at Sam's

I remember as a child hating to peel pomegranates, and if you got a bite of the white skin it was awful!
I didn't hesitate to buy these beauties, and I can't stay out of them.
So delicious and healthy.

6 more days til Christmas!

Skywatch Friday

Such a beautiful sky! I hope you all have a special Friday!

More awesome skies here!

7 Days til Christmas!

Cream Puffs and Chocolate Rocks

My husband and I rarely go shopping together. That is strictly my department except for his annual Christmas trip to Sam's. He loves going through the store and putting items in his buggy. I usually ask him, "who is that for?" His reply, "I don't know, I'll figure that out later". I remember one year he was putting crock pots in the buggy....like 7 of them. I said what in the world are you going to do with those crock pots....his answer....I think I'll give my brothers and sisters one!

Anyway, Sunday was his day to shop, so off to Sam's we went. Me with tissues and cough drops but I couldn't miss the fun of the day.

The sample taste tables were on every aisle. You can eat a meal just tasting at Sam's, and it is not all shall I say healthy.....
First came the cream puffs which were delicious and he threw a box in the buggy.

I went my own way after that to look at books and movies. Evidently there was a table of Chocolate Rocks...and various chocolate covered nuts..

Just like M & M's only made with better chocolate was the story he fell for....sure there is a chocolate better than Hershey's????
After questioning him on the purchase of rocks and nuts, I had to taste and yes they are very, very good. I'll pass on the chocolate cashews but have no doubt they will be eaten during the holidays.

Last night while we were watching the season finale of The Biggest Loser, he made the comment that he had not eaten any of the cream puffs yet. I said, what do you mean, we can't sit here and eat cream puffs while this in on....it's just not right! Jillian would jump out of the TV if we did that!!!

This brings me to a question. WHY did Jillian wear that white pant suit with big black belt and her hair in a ponytail for the finale? She has a body that women dream of and she wears that.....Did she just not want to steal their thunder? Oh well, it was a great season and I am so proud for all of the contestants. They looked great.

9 Days til Christmas!!

The Cure - Part 2

It takes more than soup to fight this crud!!!
I am waiting on the wonderful 24 to 48 hour "feel better"

The Cure

It was bound to happen. It's all around me. I fought it, ignored it, and then.......IT won!

Sore throat, sneezing, and the awful aching!

All I could think about all morning was a bowl of vegetable soup. So I braved the drizzling cool rain and bought the ingredients I was lacking.....

And now it is ready to cure me.....I know it will....I feel it!

Add a piece of cornbread to the cure and it can't fail

Do you like cornbread or crackers with soup?????

Do you like cornbread crumbled in a glass and filled with buttermilk? Oh me, it doesn't get any better than that. My daddy loved buttermilk and cornbread and I followed in his footsteps. It is pure comfort to me. I laugh at myself when buying groceries. I read labels, buy low fat products and then march to the milk cooler and buy bulgarian buttermilk.

I'm already looking forward to a glass tonight for a snack.....

Wordless Wednesday

Little hands with peanut butter and banana sandwich......

Towering Oak Tree

When we built our house, and later our pool, we picked this beautiful tree to provide us with shade in the afternoon. It was one of the largest trees on the spot we chose to build. We hated to cut any hardwood but were forced to remove some.

Many, many squirrel have built nest and raised in this tree.

A few days ago I walked under the tree and wondered why all of this bark was on the ground......

I looked up and saw bare spots on the trunk. I had noticed a few limbs in the yard but thought it was just due to wind or natural shedding.......

I looked up and realized my oak tree was shedding all of its bark.

I fear that my beautiful shade tree is dying. I don't know why. We had an awful drought this year but would that make a tree of this age die?

I am so sad to lose this beauty. I should have noticed what was happening earlier and maybe I could have done something to save it.

Skywatch Friday

Next time a sunrise steals your breath or a meadow of flowers leave you speechless, remain that way. Say nothing, and listen as heaven whispers, "Do you like it? I did it just for you"
Max Lucado

Sky Watch Friday here

Early Show ----No More!

I have a hard time believing what I read in the paper this morning....

In an effort to boost ratings, CBS will have a new cast on The Early Show, January 3, 2011. You must be kidding!

No more Harry and Maggie

No more Dave and the weather



These three are the reason I watch The Early Show....
I don't like it when one of the three is on vacation or on assignment....

Three people that I admire and love to spend my morning with!!!


From the web:

Yesterday we heard that anchors Harry Smith and Maggie Rodriguez, plus meteorologist Dave Price, had been axed from 'The Early Show' in a major reshuffle of CBS News on-air talent.

Now, executive producer David Friedman has been explaining the reasons behind the sweeping -- and, to many, unexpected -- changes. He told The Hollywood Reporter that although the shakeup came after a lot of careful consideration, "it feels sudden because there are multiple people and it feels like a big deal." It is a big deal to us....the viewers!

The change of hosts has allegedly been a topic of discussion at CBS News for some time, according to sources, and it reinforces the critical importance of chemistry in morning television. Announcing the new anchors -- Erica Hill and Chris Wragge -- CBS News President Sean McManus said "This new team brings vibrancy, intelligence and warmth that I think America will grow to love." Do not insult the intelligence and warmth of Harry Smith and Maggie Rodriguez!

Echoing that sentiment, Friedman said: "These shows are about the team ... It's about finding the right team." I don't know how you will find a team any better than Harry, Maggie and Dave!!!

Friedman has been in the job for less than a year, and under his tenure 'The Early Show' ratings have dropped to their lowest level since the 2000/01 season. He said that when he arrived he "looked at many different aspects of the show and tried to figure out what needed to be changed," adding that "obviously if things were, quote unquote, working, we wouldn't make changes."

But Friedman denied that the shuffle is just a ploy to grab higher ratings and thus higher ad revenue: "My mandate is a solid show, ... Ratings are obviously important. But as a producer I focus on the content and the quality of our broadcast. ... I'd like to say that the broadcast is going to continue to improve, and with that will come better ratings." Change the content and quality ......not the crew!!!!

So what now for Smith, Rodriguez and Price? Pink slips just in time for the holidays? In a statement released Tuesday CBS said that veteran newsman Smith will "shift his focus to hard news with an expanded role as primary substitute anchor on 'The Evening News with Katie Couric,' 'Face the Nation' and 'Sunday Morning' while continuing to report major stories for all CBS News broadcasts."

But the future's less defined for Rodriguez and Price: The statement went on to say that the CBS news division is discussing "prominent and ongoing roles" for them. "We appreciate Harry, Maggie and Dave's countless contributions to 'The Early Show' and are looking forward to the contributions they each will continue to make at CBS News."

Comment in response to this article
The Early Morning Show has just lost a loyal morning viewer! They fired them to work on your ratings well it looks like to me that it will backfire on them. I hope they have the worsest rating ever and the exc.producer who has only been there a year gets FIRED next. Karma will bite you in the rear CBS.

I agree with this comment.......I will now watch ABC, Good Morning America......

Good Luck CBS!

O J

Have you tried the new Trop50?

The commercials are well done.....I mean orange juice with 50% less calories. That's worth a try, right? No artificial sweeteners...(well that's what the label says) I'm all for less sugar and calories but I do not like sweeteners so this sounds appealing to me.

I buy it, I taste it, YUCK! It is so artificial that I can't swallow it!

Now I'm reading the label (next time I'll read before I buy)

Orange Juice Beverage....beverage

Ingredients; Filtered water, not from concentrate pasteurized orange juice, malic acid, citric acid, natural flavors and (AND) Reb A (pure via brand). What is Reb A you ask? So did I.

Google = New sugar substitute Reb A hits shelves...Rebaudioside A, natural extract from the stevia plant known as reb a, got much awaited approval from the FDA. Coca Cola and Pepsi have jumped to try it right away in a few mainly juice and water products to see how consumers accept it.

If anyone out there cares.....this consumer does not accept it. It is a poor excuse for orange juice.

Forgive me Minute Maid

Forgive me Simply Orange

Lesson learned!

These two have the flavor I crave. Good, Fresh, Orange Juice with 110 delicious calories/8 oz.
I'll save 50 calories somewhere else.....

Macro Monday - Reflection

Lots more macro shots on Lisa's Chaos MM.

Have a great Monday!!

Nanny

Woooo Pig Soooie

Sorry for the quality.....

It's a great day when you make pictures of the TV!!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving

I wish you all a blessed Thanksgiving.

I am thankful to have each of you in my life.

Be safe and once again, have a wonderful day.

Nanny

Macro Monday - Daisy

Dried but lovely!

Join the fun of Macro Monday at Lisa's Chaos..

Cocoon

It's been this way since daylight....doesn't appear to be lifting.....



It's so peaceful....

I feel like I'm in a cocoon.

I hope you are having a peaceful day.

A Day In The Nest

There aren't many days that I stay home "all" day. Today was the first in a long time. I love to stay home. I could easily become a recluse.....if I had plenty of supplies on hand...if I could see my family....if I could shop...well maybe not a recluse but I do love a good day at home!

Trixie enjoyed staying in her bed and watching me work.

I used the leftover roast from Pioneer Womans' Perfect Pot Roast to make vegetable soup for supper. Soup is my main reason for having roast! I love the leftovers almost more than the original meal.



Laundry - done
Floors - done
Online Christmas Shopping - done (I love it)

IPod - updated with Zac Brown Band and The Beatles....yes....Beatles are on ITunes now! I purchased the Rubber Soul album...Oh I love it! In My Life is such a beautiful song, I will listen to it and the entire album with fond memories!!!!

I hope you all had a great day! We had a cold front move through after lunch and I am ready for soup and cornbread....(then Survivor) Speaking of TV, did you see Brandy's face when she was eliminated from DWTS? I know she was shocked, I was too, but she looked, shall I say angry?

Nanny

Fluorescent

This magnificent tree caused us to stop dead in the street. I have never in my life seen a prettier tree. The leaves glowed in the sunlight. The yellow was truly fluorescent. Luckily, camera was handy and we jumped out of the car to snap a few....

Looking up through the leaves I couldn't believe the beauty

On the other side of the yard stood a magnolia that rivaled for attention! It's size and shape were breathtaking.

My favorite shot (I only had my point and shoot with me) was of Solar falling on the grass to capture this one of sweetpea.

I left wondering how many people stop to photograph this beautiful tree and if the homeowners know how much joy their yard brings to passersby!

double click images to see the real beauty of this tree

Joy of Being A Nanny!

Yes I did it and I admit it.....

I bought sweetpea her very first Mrs. Field sugar cookie!

Can you hear her saying ummmm?

I tried to share it with her but that didn't go over at all!

It was gone in a flash!

Totally wrapped around her little finger, and loving it!

Nanny