joeyfullystated

I am not standing on Darth Vader

Posted on December 26, 2015 by joey

It was not a white Christmas here in Indy. God knows I love a rainy day, but I would’ve loved snow.

Weirdest Christmas weather I can recall. We even had a few open windows. I don’t know how warm it was, around 60F/15C. Strange.
Around midnight we were back outside, barefoot, gazin upon the full moon.

My family devoured my mother’s fudge, but I am an only, and therefore, I feel greedily entitled to hoard her fruitlings. She’s MY MOMMY!

I filled everyone’s stockings with candy, and I think it helped.

I let everyone look at the snow family she crocheted, though, so that’s nice.

How freakin adorable are they? The little one, he is French, non? Il porte une petite moustache, non? Tote dorbs.

We did all the dipping, the roll-outs, baking, icing, and sprinkling. We also did some cookie eating, so there are only about 100 cookies left now.

I’m still gonna make a Texas Sheet Cake and some chocolate chip cookies because this upcoming week we’ll have people in and out.

Some of us did a lot of dishes. Some of us did more dishes than Mama asked because listening, but Mama doesn’t mind when people do extra dishes because they didn’t listen well.
If clean the kitchen-destroy the kitchen-clean the kitchen-destroy the kitchen had been a game, I’da won.
My kitchen is big enough for Thanksgiving, but it’s not big enough for Christmas. How wonderful is life when your kitchen’s so full of cookies, you find yourself holding a hot cookie sheet without a place to set it down? That’s a wonderful life.

We watched movies, colored and gamed, snuggled, and slept-in.

I found myself slightly maudlin that Sissy wasn’t with us, but three out of four is still heartwarming. One day we may have an eerily quiet Christmas without any children at all, and one day there may be sixteen grandchildren and we’ll go deaf from all the squealing — You never know. It’s best to celebrate each day for what it is instead of complaining about what it is not.
For the days it’s not as easy to celebrate what is, may you have cookies and drink, and best of all, the imagination and gratitude to make the crappy bits better.
aren’t we lucky to have the boy one home?
what a joyous day it will be when all six of us are together again!
isn’t it nice that my husband is not in iraq today?
isn’t it grand that we live here? look at all the pretty trees! there’s a tree in my house!
perhaps one day there will be teleporters…

It was a splendid, if strangely warm, day.

Today, more rain, but ah, the chili’s on.

Posted in Personally | Tagged kids | 42 Comments

#Thursday Doors — Woodruff Place Collection

Posted on December 24, 2015 by joey

Continuing with my last two posts about Woodruff Place, here and here –today I’m showing you the rest of the doors I snapped.

Here’s my favorite of the remainders:

porch kitty watches you

This is the back porch of a huge brick home. I assume the door isn’t often used, because that kitty is made of stone. Charming, charming door. Also, the wood trim is coral, and that’s an unusually cheerful color for such a serious house. But then, that’s why color is so important. The size, the brick, the slate roof — all imposing, but the coral trim and the whimsical stone kitty tell me the owner is fun.

Many of the following doors and details are dressed for the holidays, and so of course a #ThursdayDoors on Christmas Eve seems appropriately timed.

back porch kitty watches you

this is the SIDE door of a house

brick detail

we all loved this house and wish we had a turret for our tree as well

door of home with turret and friendly kitty

i think the tree helps

adorable double-double doors

yellow houses can seem so warm and cheerful (that’s why i live in one!)

Do you have a favorite?

#ThursdayDoors is part of an inspired post series run by Norm Frampton. To view other interesting doors, click the link and see what others are posting today.

PS: I’ve been in a state of fury about this post. Last night I TRIED to compose a draft in the mobile app, thinkin it would be easier to upload photos. The new post editor that we all hate was supposedly designed to make posting easier on mobile app. Clean and clear, it said. Fuck that shit. I spent half an hour waiting for photos to upload, only a few showed up, and then, like that wasn’t bad enough, it published it live instead of saving as a draft. Not clean and clear enough for me, obviously. I slammed the door in Mobile App’s face. My apologies to anyone who got an error message.

Posted in Random Musings | Tagged Thursday Doors | 10 Comments

One-Liner Wednesday — Once a Marine…

Posted on December 23, 2015 by joey

I said to The Mister, “While you’ve got some time off, maybe you could blow up all the fings.”
The Mister gave me an enormous grin, so I continued, “Basketballs, bicycle tires…”
The Mister made a sad face and said, “Oh.”

One-Liner Wednesdays are brought to you by LindaGHill

Posted in Random Musings | Tagged One-Liner Wednesday, The Mister | 17 Comments

Christmas Postathon — Day 22

Posted on December 22, 2015 by joey

The prompt for 22 is White Christmas or green Christmas?

I’ve been hoping for a White Christmas since I got back to Indiana and I still haven’t had one. Maybe the third time is the charm?
Probably not.

Just this morning at 3am, I was lying in bed, pondering over my endless supply of worries, when all of a sudden I heard a hauntingly familiar noise, repeating itself. Rain. I picked up my phone and checked the weather. Yep, 51 and rainy. The weather is so mild this week, there is no hope of snow.

Snow is much more enjoyable when you don’t have to go anywhere. So nice to admire from the warmth of your home — say, in front of a large picture window with heat blowing on your feet and a hot cuppa in your hand? Much nicer to play in it at 3pm rather than brush it off your car at 7am.

one of my snowy views — i never tire of it

I’m always dreaming of a white Christmas. Actually, I’d like snow on the ground all winter.
People hate that about me.
Usually, I just get ice on my street all winter. S’not the same.

Posted in Personally | Tagged Christmas Postathon, holidays, nature | 41 Comments

Share Your World? Okay!

Posted on December 21, 2015 by joey

I’ve seen Cee’s Share Your World challenges for a long time, maybe even since I started this blog, but I really had no idea what people were on about. I started noticing my blogging buddies referring to Cee’s blog more and more, and while I’m not much on peer pressure, and I take a strange pride in the rock I live under, it’s good to try new things. Last week Cee had a challenge about doors and windows and Norm of #ThursdayDoors brought it to my attention.
It turns out Cee is a person who, among other things, teaches photography. I figured I could follow along and glean some knowledge goodies. I spent like two hours reading, because as it turns out, taking good pictures involves knowing rules and then breaking them (not unlike good writing.) I decided I have an artful eye, I see all the pretty. I never really thought about the methods…I simply wander around, capturing bits of my life with an iPhone without too much thought. I’m convinced I will still do this. I mean, I neeeeed aspects of my life where I don’t overthink, but learning is fun and challenges are essential to growth.

So here I am, on the 51st week of the year, joining in. Here are my responses to this week’s Cee’s Share Your World:

Favorite thing to photograph? Write? Or Cook?

Already, I sit here twenty minutes thinking about this prompt. Ugh, I like to photograph flora and fauna. I like to write anything, really, and descriptively or persuasively appeals the most. I like to cook all the things, maybe sauces, stews, and soups the most.
I cannot choose between writing and cooking. Like choosing between books and music, or food and sex, or whatever — I WANT IT ALL AND YOU CAN’T MAKE ME CHOOSE!

Did you like swinging as a child? Do you still get excited when you see a swing?

Yes, I always did love the swings! No, I do not get excited when I see a swing now. I don’t even like to sit in rockers or gliders anymore. I blame the vertigo and nausea that often accompany anxiety.

What has surprised you about blogging?

WordPress is surely the kindest, most supportive community on the internet.

List at least five favorite desserts.

Now we’re talkin!
Ice cream, spumoni, frozen custard, Key lime pie, sugar cream pie, coconut cream pie, lemon meringue pie, my mother’s chocolate dream pie, pecan pie, Boston cream pie, tiramisu, creme brulee, butterscotch pudding, pistachio pudding, vanilla pudding, chocolate pudding, sex in a pan, pineapple delight, chocolate eclairs, blackberry cobbler, carrot cake, Black Forest cake, Texas sheet cake, wedding cake, lemon icebox cake…

Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

Oh wow, well, I’m grateful for a lot. I’ll go with being most grateful for my health, (It’s my health, I get to judge when it’s good!) and for all the sleep that likely makes it possible. All hail Winter Break!
I’m looking forward to baking this week.

Feel free to join in on Cee’s challenges, she’s quite welcoming.

Posted in Personally | Tagged SYW | 15 Comments

Christmas Postathon — Day 20

Posted on December 20, 2015 by joey

Colored lights or white lights? Nancy prompts.

Matter of personal preference, isn’t it?

I might would add colored lights if they were bubble lights!

I’m a white light person, because I love white.
This year, some of my LED lights died tragically from lyin about in a box all year. I had to buy some new LED lights, and well, they are not the same color white. I had warm white and I bought cool white.
But I tell ya, I’m not unhappy, cause guess what? Looks like silver and gold!

Now I shall endeavor to maintain the warm and cool contrast.

Posted in Random Musings | Tagged Christmas Postathon, holiday | 26 Comments

Christmas Postathon — Day 19

Posted on December 19, 2015 by joey

On the 19th, Nancy lists the Christmas tree.

I’d argue it’s a Yule tree, but I must admit, Christmas trees seem more popular.

We got a live tree this year.
We don’t always.
Last year we had Cletus the Dog Kitten to contend with, so we felt like the artificial tree was better suited to kittenhood.

We’ve had several artificial trees since we’ve been together. Initially, we had a gigantic one and that was cool, because we had a lot of space.
Then we moved to a smaller home. The first year, I took off some limbs and put it in a corner. The second year, I decided that gigantic tree would look better in front of Beauty Queen’s picture window, and we bought a skinny pre-lit tree instead.
I’ll never buy a pre-lit tree again. I’m just sayin.
Then we moved to Georgia and our skinny tree looked absolutely ridiculous in our big house. So we used real trees awhile, and then we bought another 8-footer, but not too full.

The real tree is where it’s at for me. Smells good. Supports farmers. Becomes mulch.

But one cannot always find the perfect live tree for the space.
Or the kittens.
Or the toddlers.
Or the allergies.
So you know, I don’t have anything against the fake trees. They’re certainly easier to trim.

Surprisingly, I’ve not caught Clara in the tree yet this year…

Two years ago, I decided to reclaim the tree from the children’s ornaments. Last year, I let them put some of their ornaments on. This year I did not. Maybe next year. Maybe not.

I’m already fighting three cats, do I really need to address the kitsch and clutter of 100 kid ornaments?
I secure the ornaments as if they’ll spontaneously combust when they hit the floor. (As I’m sure all cat lovers do.) I put some jingle bells on the bottom for the cats’ amusement.

I’ve never figured out how to have a tree skirt with cats.

This is the first year I got wise and looked for other ways to do the ribbon. Not so much a garland as what seems to be an explosion. When I wake up in the morning, I don’t have to redress the entire tree. I just stick the ends of the ribbon back in.

I’d love to have a new fake tree. I think I’d opt for skinny again. And flocked. And maybe with some gilded pine cones.
But then, the genuine smell of pine….Ahh!

I’m one of those people who really loves the tree. I mean, c’mon, twinkly lights and sparkly things and ribbon!
I secretly wish to admire lit evergreens all year, perhaps one in every room. Maybe a lil Charlie Brown tree on the table…
Sadly, I live in a little bungalow with Mister Bah Humbug and he’d be quick to point out how many, many evergreens are outside.

Do you love tree-time, too? Do you have to be careful about getting a tree that is just right for your space?

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged cats, Christmas Postathon, parenting, The Mister | 38 Comments

Christmas Postathon — Day 18

Posted on December 18, 2015 by joey

18. Celebrating the holiday with your pets

Huh?
Like, giving them presents or hanging stockings for them or whatever?
Nah.

We did, the second Christmas we had our dog, give her an enormous bone.

It wasn’t as much a Christmas gift as it was a distraction, because the first Christmas we had Sadie, she apparently got a little stressed and chewed on one of Sassy’s shoes. Sadie was content to hang out in the back yard and chew on her bone all day, because well, we did live in Georgia. It was prolly 80 degrees or someshit.

Sadie occasionally enjoys chugging a hefty amount of pine, 7Up, and sap-flavored tea from the base of the tree as well.

Celebrating Christmas with our pets usually just deals with the cats. Like this meme I saw the other day.

Or the fact that I had to get up out of bed in the wee hours to confiscate a small ball ornament from Cletus the Dog Kitten. He had purloined it from the tree and was jauntily batting it all over the house, no doubt enjoying the ping-y-pong-y noises it made as he chased it. I did not enjoy the ping-y-pong-y noises one iota.
He took his revenge. I woke up this morning to discover the bow from a gift lay unraveled beneath the tree. He murdered it right nice.

Then there’s Clara, doing this every year:

every.year.

clara takes it over every year

Perhaps Catticus is a Scrooge. He’s never involved in any merriment.

But really, we have our celebrations and the cats have theirs.
Being part cat myself, I presume they find a great deal of joy with all the ribbon, paper, bags, and sparkly things, let alone the magical tree.

Do you do anything special with your pets during Yuletide? Sit them with Santa? Fill their stockings? Put them in ugly Christmas sweaters?

Posted in Random Musings | Tagged Christmas Postathon | 37 Comments

Christmas Postathon — Day 17

Posted on December 17, 2015 by joey

17. A special gift you have given or received

This topic kinda blows my mind, because when I think about gifts I have received, I get emotionally overwhelmed with gratitude. Best I focus on the material items, I reckon.
Oh but the heirlooms and the quilts and the books and the fabric!

Okay, I gotta focus on Christmas…

For a special gift I received, I’ll go with the Christmas my parents bought me an enormous stuffed Winnie-the-Pooh Bear. Oh my gosh, y’all it’s huge. We still have it. It lived with Bubba for a long time and then Bubba let his sisters take custody of his stuffies, so giant Pooh Bear, now a naked Pooh Bear, lives in Moo’s room, where, really, he could basically be a back support/arm rest pillow for her.

I got that Pooh Bear when I was 18.

After all the presents had been opened, my dad asked me to go look in the coat closet and that’s where I found Pooh. Such a whimsical, timely gift. One of my favorites fersure.

I strapped him in the passenger seat and drove him back to college with me. He never once complained about my driving, perhaps because he knew I’d always have hunny on hand.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Bubba, Christmas Postathon, holidays, Moo | 16 Comments

#Thursday Doors — New Doors in an Old Place

Posted on December 17, 2015 by joey

Continuing from last week’s post from Woodruff Place, here are two doors that are new additions to some freshly renovated homes.

I like the yellow one. I mean, it’s a yellow door on a blue house, and that green chair is a great accessory. I’m not a fan of modern aesthetics, but this is a good-looking door all the same.
I’m sure some people prefer its newness and the clean lines of its transom and trim.

The newer traditional door is new wood, stained so dark it almost looks black, but it’s wood. I so rarely see such new masonry details on a home. I am compelled to admire the door’s surround. Also, no crumbling steps here!

I’ll post most of the doors I snapped in Woodruff Place next week, which means I’ll go back to the old stuff I so prefer.

#ThursdayDoors is part of an inspired post series run by Norm Frampton. To view other interesting doors, click the link and see what others are posting today.

Posted in Random Musings | Tagged Thursday Doors | 33 Comments