Time is running out, December 17th!!!!

There is always too much to do, this time of year. Christmas is just toooooo close to Thanksgiving. Let's combine the two, Christgiving!!! I like it, serve delicious Turkey and fixings and put up the tree. WAIT, that's what we do now, there is no hope.
Right now, I'm up to my elbows in addressing Christmas cards.
Each year I begin to think about Christmas cards in August. What will my letter say? What tid-bit of knowledge do I need to share? What cute photo of my "grown" children will I send? How do I trick them into taking another Christmas photo??
This year they had a mini fit, I almost had to call a priest to cast out the demons in these babes of mine. Its a photo, for Christs sake. (Sorry priest!) "Mom we are too old!" cried my children. " Bah-Humbug, and stop twisting your neck around!!!" ( still possessed??) said I. So we decided to have a "healthy dialogue" which I believe is an oxymoron. Needless to say, the animals are on the card this year. They are ,after all, our sheep in the manger.Loving us up, with no fit in sight. ( I did sneak in a pic of the angels) You didn't think I would let the kids TOTALLY win, did you???
So the cards are all laid out, stamps, labels, printed card, photo of Hart and Emma, lists from last year, colored sharpies, three address books and no partridge in the pear tree!!! I have addressed about forty and have about fifty left to go, these cards are killing me. Crank up the carols, I need some Christmas spirit, or there is no telling How I may sign the remaining cards!! Oh Holy S--t.....I mean Night!!!!

Golf Clubs or Grits, your choice.

MEN, we do not go gentle into the night!!!
Tiger what were you thinking?? Better yet, Elin what were you thinking?? A nine iron, or hot grits!!! Take notes.

Today on the Internet, I read a news headline, A SCORNED WOMAN THROWS HOT GRITS ON HER HUSBAND WHILE HE WAS SLEEPING!!!!!!
lORD have mercy, that is an angry woman.
One-she took the time to make grits!
Two-She ate a bowl, before the big "splat"
Three-She added no butter!!!!!!so they would really stick to his lying, cheating, face!!! GAWD Almighty!!!!

Tiger,Tiger,Tiger, shame on you, and watch out, Miss Elin will receive a copy of this blog!!!

It takes a Village, to help me shop!!!

Another adventure with my buddy, Jamie. We decided yesterday, that we can only get together twice a year. We are too draining!!! or "Our Adventures" are!!
Saturday morning started with a tour of my Christmas decos,and the laughs began.I admit, I do have a certain "style", that my bud enjoys. From my angel bathroom decor, to my nutcracker ballet slippers surrounding a bowl of gold ornaments!!! These are signed slippers by the ballerinas, toe shoes, worn and beautiful. Yes I did buy them, one of my divine purchases.
From, la casa, we drove to "Farmer D's. An organic store, hooked to a Mexican car wash, that sells live chickens, and Kudzu baskets. We were shaking with laughter and excitement, we touched everything in the store. Baskets came home with us, crooked and marvelous. Next time we are going to have the car washed, while we hold the chickens, and shop!!!!
Our next stop was Ten Thousand Villages,(http://www.tenthousandvillages.com/). The five hundred nativity scenes stopped us at the door. It was a holiday delight, we really touched everything in that store, and had the sales boy!! show me how to make a prayer bowl sing. ( that sounds pornographic, but its a Buddhist prayer thing!!)
Merchandise made by people from all over the world,and the money going back to them.
I think they may have been able to build a house after we left, sooooo much fun.
Exhausted , we decided to stop by The Spruill House for the artist market show, just a quick run-by!!! We were grabbing homemade ornaments out of each others hands, and hollering. Precious jewels, to be had. All my purchases, that I bought for others, are hanging on my tree. I still have plenty to share??
Now we were beyond tired, but we needed some Java. Dunken Donuts was near and dear.
Little did we know that 35 minutes later we would still be sitting in DD's with "Boston Betty" who decided to share with us, her life story. We draw people to us, its a curse and a blessing. Jamie said it was because we had so much fun shopping, that we had to "pay back" and be good listeners.Honestly people, during the holidays, are a little different!!! It takes a village, of all kinds!!! Jamie and I included!!!! Merry,Merry!!!!

Stop Talking Aunt Lucille: Sing it loud, noel...NOEL!!!!!!!

Stop Talking Aunt Lucille: Sing it loud, noel...NOEL!!!!!!!

Sing it loud, noel...NOEL!!!!!!!

Growing up my dad would remind me, on occasion, that my singing sounded like, " A Fart in a Bucket!". What exactly does that mean?? My grandmother would say, "You have the voice of an angel!" I listened to "1-Nannie". She knew a gifted talent, a songbird!!!that's me. I belted tunes out morning, noon and night.
Singing fills my soul.
From Opera to Waylon, Diana Ross to Lady GaGa. Throw in Broadway show tunes,I become Fanny Brice.
So at this time of year,"Oh, Come All Ye Faithful", takes me to my knees. Christmas Carols added to my play list, a singer's dream.
Don't forget,a singer, I am!!!!! just ask my "1-Nannie"
So I sing, loud and proud, "Hark", this Angel Sings!!

Sand For All Seasons

While reading the , much anticipated, Sunday paper, an ad spoke to me. Jumped right off the page and called me by name!!!"Bonnie Kay Blackman Baron, why are you so bundled up?"I whispered,so my people would not think I was talking to the paper!!!So in a soft voice I replied, " I AM FREEZING MY ASS OFF!!"
I have never adapted to cold weather, in fact, not even cool weather. 75 degrees is sweater weather.
Build me a sign that reads "No Snow Allowed"
I know there are those that LOVE the snow, and cold. They are liars. People looked "pinched" in cold weather. Look at their faces, "PINCHED". Hats, and scarfs, and itchy clothes, bundled up and angry people.
Seeing the ad in the paper,inviting people to travel to Charleston for Christmas,confirmed my belief. It read "He's not frosty, but he sure is cool!"
A snowman made out of sand, YES!!! a sandman!!! Joy to the World!!!!

Are Your Lights All A glow?Or Is One Light Out!!!

Do not misread the title. I love "O Tannenbaum" It is the process of undoing the boxes, and checking the lights that can suck the "Ho, Ho, Ho out of you!!Each year I open the boxes and act, as if, I have never seen these things before. "Oh, look at this one!" I scream. My holiday ornaments have come home again. I hold them in my hands, like the wise men carrying the frankincense. Jewels, my family's memories, attached to each bauble.
Keith's macrame reindeer, Brian's inability to do crafts(no homemade ornaments), Ward's clay gingerbread man, Hart's felt bell, and Emma's paper star. That is just the first layer from four crates of "stuff" for the tree. The masterpiece of layered memories, adorns our computer room/living room. One of Lucy's many rooms to claim her own!! Lights blinking, and memories tugging on my heart. Christmas, I think, is for remembering, and always having an extra set of lights!!!!