Happy New Year! ( and a Christmas Eve Vid)

Important Update:

Video added....and it only took me ALL DAY to put it together!

 (I'm serious...so you better enjoy it!  LOL)!

You will note~ at the end I have decided Not to give up Christmas, after all!

:)

   ~~~~   

  (earlier today)

Hi Folks,

OK ~ I'm being lazy to link you to my last years New Years Eve posts,

but what the heck!

....Maybe something new and fresh will come up later! ;)

Meanwhile, just check this out!

And here's a poem from this day last year!

~~~

If we do anything at all in celebration, today/tonight, it will probably be a ride in the evening to catch the sunset! We'll see what the day brings!

The kind of day I like- unplanned! :) If it's unplanned then there are more possibilities out there! ;)

Catch you later!

Junie

Happy New Year

Confused Chef

Marc's interview with Gabbo after Gabbo's cooking of Christmas dinner 2007

:)

Junie Rose

AKA~Ginga

Ginga's First Movie!

This is 'Ginga's' first movie!

hahahahaha

Man!!

Do I sound southern-or what??

:)

Love,

Ginga

Aka Junie Rose

Time~ a poem

You will have to click to read this!
Sorry- I wanted to use the old pic because it fit with the poem.


Junie

About our Christmas

Hope you enjoyed seeing the slides of some of our Christmas pictures... I especially hope the family sees it and likes it!
But ~ what's not to like! These were some happy hours for us all!

:)

Note:

Slide show in post below this one!


~~~

OK ~ I have to give credit where it's due ...and admit that Charlie did most of the cooking of the turkey and dressing this time ~ from the making of the corn bread ~to chopping the onions and celery ~to putting the stuffing together and stuffing the turkey!

~~~ To be honest- I just found myself at a point of a mental and physical exhaustion and didn't feel I could manage any more. Charles is always able to pull us (me) through! (Have I ever said what a 'jewel' of a man he is? ) I even let the banana pudding go this time! ( first time in years I haven't done a banana pudding for Christmas...so you know this had to be a bad time for me)...Don't get me wrong...I did not sit and twiddle my thumbs while he was cooking...I did the potatoes and the side dishes...and I had done a lot of baking of goodies before the big day...and I had done the Eve buffet meal! It's just that on this day I let Charles totally be in charge of seeing to the turkey and dressing! I have to say it turned out perfect, too! I told my girls I felt guilty, posing for our picture together with the turkey - since I had nothing to do with cooking it! Lol
- but I did it anyway -
'Ham' that I am! ~~~






In spite of my tiredness and whatever...(sadness-for one thing-) we still had a wonderful time with the kids all here. I'm always thankful to have them for one more time - all together.

~~~

I want to show you some of my neat gifts...

The picture of 'The Who' is from Zach! I like it a lot and was pleased that he got it for me on his trip to Chicago!
( He was thinking about me even on this most exciting trip he was on! LOL- So there, folks! That means I'm special! :) )

Dan and Brian both got me a book as they both know I enjoy reading very much.
Both look quite interesting, too! I'll look forward to reading them both. And of course, too, the Dean Koontz book that Charles gave me!

Chris gave me another CD today that he had forgotten to give me when he gave me my other things on the 21st. This is a Warren Zevon...Warren Zevon Preludes~rare and unreleased recordings! This will be something I will enjoy having, as I was/am a big fan of the late, Warren Zevon.

The angel figure and blown glass santa are from Tam and Terry... I love them both!
They are very fine pieces to add to my Christmas collectibles! They will be displayed in my santa case all year.

The little snow-people and candy dish are from Alli! Very cute! They are a salt/pepper shaker set but I'm just gonna keep them with my other santas, etc, and have them to look at all year!

Next is from Tina and Marc...tickets to see Gordon Lightfoot- for Charles and me! What a nice and unexpected surprise!
( haha-the best kind of surprises-those unexpected ones :)!!!)
We both liked his music during the 70s-80s . I know we will enjoy this concert. It will be in February and it's in Gainesville... a 45 minute ride from our place. We'll plan a nice meal before the show! YAH!! Should be a lot of fun!



Last but not least (among other things) Charles got me this video camera! I hope I can learn how to use it! You all know me and new things!! :[ And getting it set up with the computer will be tricky, I'm sure! Worse part is, Marc has to leave tomorrow and won't be able to help me! I guess Alli can help me figure things out!



Charles told me a few days ago that he didn't know what to get me and wanted to get me something I would really enjoy...OK- It hasn't gone unnoticed that I like to play with pictures and such - I said recently that I NEVER want to be without a camera or computer... He KNOWS I have fun with all this stuff!

What he said was.."I'm not gonna get you any jewelry because it's a waste of money!... And you got every 'd - - - ' thing you can think of! " ....and something about me only having 10 fingers ~ for to wear rings on... ;)
True...after all these years together...all the Christmases-anniversaries-birthdays- I DO have a lot of nice jewelry items!
( but not near-Everything! ;) )

LOL- So the camera was a good choice! Still- I insisted I wanted to be surprised, so he picked it out on his own!


( Sorry my pics aren't in order )












OK~

We had a good one~

Hope you all did too!


Love,

Junie

Our Christmas Eve & Christmas Day '07

Some scenes from our Christmas!

( for the family)

Love,

Ginga

(Junie Rose)

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

From us to you!


June and Charles

Harvest Loaf recipe- again!

Once again...at the last moment... Harvest Loaf Recipe!

(I am doing this tonight)



Junie

Time goes on...

Yes!
Just one more day 'til our Christmas Eve party.....and I am not ready!

Today I still have baking to do. I made a (DOUBLE) batch of magic cookie bars yesterday... but they were left in the oven just a couple minutes too long! (5- probably!!) They are too hard! :( Not sure if I'll re-do them ...or just pretend they are ok! Knowing me, tho, (as well as I do,) I'd say I will probably do them over! Not that these less than perfect ones will be dumped... You can bet every morsel will be eaten - perfect or not!


~~~

Lol- reminds me of how some Beatles fans talk about Beatles music...saying that even the worst of the Beatles music is better than the best of other bands!!

WELL...that goes for these Magic Cookie Bars, too! They are better than most even at their worst!

~~~

Last night my SIL. Marc got home- and he stopped by here... Had to use my computer to get his trucking business taken care of. I was unable to get any blogging/computer time in. I missed that time I usually take for myself- after dinner- to relax! I wanted to listen to Dan's music also...I hope to get to do that tonight! I'm counting on it!!!

~~~

I had trouble sleeping last night as I usually do when things are thrown off track for me...

Turned my light off but tossed and turned , unable to get to sleep- until , finally, I decide to give my reading one more go... I reach to turn my light on and the dang bulb blew!! I did not give in to the uselessness of trying, again, to get to sleep! I'd done that for at least an hour! So I rambled around in the semi-darkness until I found a bulb I could steal from another lamp in the room! (all the while muttering and whimpering in my frustrations... if not worse!) I went through the routine once more (of reading) until I finally felt I could get to sleep!

LOL! Some of my nights would make very funny videos.....

~~~

Oh! I got the good news yesterday that my grandson, Zach, made it back safely from his trip to Chicago! (Just in time, looks like, from the news reports I saw today!) Had a lot of fun...saw snow.... wants to MOVE up there!!!

No!

I sure hope not!


Got to get going now and decide just what I need to do here to pull this all together! :)

It'll work out!


Love,
Junie Rose

Our Pre-Christmas Buffet

Our buffet was very enjoyable last night- :) though a smaller crowd than I have ever had here! There were only 7 of us. But we had a good time- eating the good food and then exchanging the presents we had for each other.

Here are a few pics from last night- (I didn't get a lot!)

My sis, Joy, and her son and his girlfriend.


My son, Christopher


Charles, and me, by the Christmas tree.






Some of the food



















Some of my gifts...







My sister searched the net and printed me out a bunch of Dan Fogelberg pictures- throughout the years of his career! I loved seeing them and loved the thoughtfulness of my sister in doing this for me!
Thanks, Joy!
(for these pics and all the other things you and Mike gave to Charles and me.)






Chris gave me some old Rock n Roll cds.
My son loves Christmas and loves giving gifts to us and puts a lot of thought into finding what folks would like! :)
I see he's been paying attention to his old mom's fascination with catching up with my classic rock and roll music!
These are some cds I've been looking for!
( Dire Straits, 'Love Over Gold'- 'Kansas, 'Point of Know Return'- Supertramp,'Breakfast in America' and Justin Hayward & John Lodge, 'Blue Jays'

Thanks, Chris! And also for 'Knots Landing- First season!' It will be fun watching that again.












I haven't played any of the 'new' music yet.


Last night I played Dan's beautiful Christmas music.

'BING' is waiting for his chance! :)







Christmas is almost here!!


Love,
Junie

Oh, my! Oh, my!!

Hey Y'All,

Here it is, getting on with the day of the 21 st.... The day of the night we are to have a dinner-get together to open presents with our son Chris and my sister and her husband and her 2 sons and the girl friend of one !

...and here am I- with curlers in my hair- eggs boiling, potatoes in the pot for my 'world famous'
potato salad! (haha! ) Chicken salad, too, already made! It, too, famous in this family...or at the least looked on with the highest respect and praise!....and my husband sent out for a few last minute items from the grocery store!
(Of course you know that I am just being silly here...happens in these times, with me! :) )

Floors still to vacuum and kitchen to mop!! Oh, Charlie! Hurry on home, now! Will we make it? You betcha!!

~~~

In spite of my rushed schedule I took some time last night with some more of my Dan Fogelberg music! I played 3 of his albums I had not listened to in awhile. Talked to friends about the music as I listened! It was enjoyable - always will be!

Got to bed later than I should have , but it was worth it!


K - have to get back to my potato salad making now!

Hope you are all having a nice day! (too!!)


Love,

Junie

Getting it together...

Hey Folks,

Yesterday I managed to get a lot of presents wrapped...but today had to go out to finish up with my shopping...so tonight -way into the wee hours- I will be wrapping again! As usual I have had a time trying to balance everything out for everyone!



Had to make another trip to the grocery store too. My son has requested a dinner on the 21st. -and we will exchange our gifts with him that evening. He has to work on Christmas Eve-when we all normally are together for our present openings! We also have invited my sister and her husband over and my nephew, too. ...This means I will have to have my house all festive and spiffy and full of cheer- 3 whole days early!! Can I do it? Well...we'll see- lol- If not I will just have to fake it!

Trust me! I can do it! I can bring it all together!

~~~


Last night I was up late talking with some Dan Fogelberg fans on a message forum I visit-and also with a good friend of mine. It helps to have people who cared about Dan and his music, to share in the memories!...And today when I went shopping I once again played his beautiful Christmas cd- 'The First Christmas Morning.'

If I could I would share this with all of you - my blog buddies!
I promise you- there would be no regrets if you buy this cd.
It would make a Perfect gift for anyone!





Love,

Junie

Our visit with the kids!

( NOTE: I was working on this post Sunday night when I got the sad news of Dan -here-
so I will finish it up and post it today/tonight!
Life goes on and we have to continue-even with the sadness hovering over us!

...Zach is leaving today on that trip north! I hope he has a safe and fun trip)

~~~

















Today (Sunday) we went to visit our kids in Orlando~

daughter, Tam, SIL Terry and grandson Zach.
Zach is flying up tomorrow to visit friends in Chicago! Needless to say I am a bit 'uneasy' about this trip he's going on and wanted to see him today and tell him to 'Be Careful!' Lol- That's a Ginga thing and it just makes me feel better to be able to do it! I think (hope) the kids don't mind- even tho they are all grown up now! Zach has never seen snow ...and I expect he will see some on this trip! That's the MAIN idea of going, I think!! :)

Here we are ( Charles and Me) about to leave - and stopped, on the way down, by a lake! :) Didn't realize how windy it was until I got out of the truck! It's a really pretty spot there and we often stop when we're down that way.

And here are some pics of Zach and some of Tammy's neat Christmas decorating! I love seeing her decorating ideas! Some of these are craft items I have made for her over the years!















































AND - Zach's cool cat- 'Mittens!'


~~~


Tina, Alli and her 2 friends had been to a music concert in Fort Lauderdale and were to stop by Tammy's house on the way home- however, we had to leave before they got there!


This is Alli and her friends the night before-at our house!





(Happy times until I heard the news of Dan Fogelberg)


Junie

Remembering Dan

With Love,

Junie Rose

Dan Fogelberg~ goodbye, Dear Dan

I just got news from my sister that our beloved Dan Fogelberg passed away today.

Here is the story and there's lots more out there. This is the first account I found so I'm posting it!


~~~

Singer-Songwriter Dan Fogelberg Dies

By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY – 1 hour ago

NEW YORK (AP) — Dan Fogelberg, the singer and songwriter whose hits "Leader of the Band" and "Same Old Lang Syne" helped define the soft-rock era, died Sunday at his home in Maine after battling prostate cancer. He was 56.

Please read the story here~

Those of you who know me  or have read my writings over the past couple of years will know how deeply saddened I am with this news.

As I mentioned just yesterday on my blog - Dan's Christmas music has become a tradition  with me, and I had linked to a site to share  some of it with you, my friends here!  I had plans to play  his Christmas cd tonight...and I will do that , still... but with tears! 

I'm sorry I can't get my thoughts together so I will go for now.

Junie 

Sarah-once again!

Something beautiful!

Junie

Pea has tagged me to do this Christmas 'Hoopla'...and they are saying, ''Don't call it by that dreaded 'M' name!" ;) OK! ...but a rose is a rose is a rose...haha ( just DO IT!)

Here are the golden rules:
1. List 12 random things about yourself that have to do with Christmas.
2. Please refer to it as a ‘hoopla’ and not the dreaded ‘m’-word…
3. You have to tag specific people when you’re done. No “if you’re reading this, consider yourself tagged” stuff is allowed…then nobody ends up actually doing it. The number of people who you tag is really up to you — but the more, the merrier to get this ‘hoopla’ circulating through the blogosphere.
4. Please try and do it as quickly as possible. The Christmas season will be over before we know it! Let’s involve as many people as possible!
5. Please give Andrea some link-love as the “Hoopla-Creator!


~~~


1.~ I LOVE vintage decorations and have collected a lot over the years...Like this old santa and bottle brush tree.

2.~ This is one treat I have made for Christmas Eve for the past 30 years or so...'Magic Cookie Bars' ( pictured here with other goodies last Christmas Eve.

3.~ I believed in Santa until I was about 12 years old! I REALLY did!
4.~ This is one of my earliest Christmas memories...

5.~ I always got a doll on Christmas...until I was 12 years old...and to this day I consider a doll as a very special gift to receive! This is an antique doll my husband gave me one Christmas!


6.~ My granddaughter was almost a Christmas baby
...coming about 4 hours late - at about 4:00AM on Dec 26th! I wanted her to be named MERRY NOEL but her mom said 'no!' :) She was named Allison Brooke! Here is my 'almost' Christmas baby on a past Christmas Eve!





7.~ We have been lucky in being able to be with ALL our kids and grands-almost every Christmas!




8. Christmas holds many happy memories but also some very sad things have happened during this time...( Those sad ones I try not to dwell on!)

9.~My fondest wish is someday to be able to spend a Christmas in a "snowy place!" Lol- a ski resort maybe! (haha)

10.~ Every year I work myself up into a lather- thinking I can't possibly get everything done-all the preparations made- all the gifts bought and wrapped- all the goodies made- So far I have managed to pull it off! ( this time remains to be seen!)

11.~ Santas are a big love of mine! I have a LOT! Here are a couple that I made!


12.~ I love all Christmas music and
I especially enjoy Dan Fogelberg's 'The First Christmas Morning' cd! It's become a 'tradition' for me to listen to this a few times every Christmas season!


OK ~ I have to tag someone...so I will go with Judy , Janet and Rachel ...on my side bar!
Have a fun day!



Love,
Junie