One Little Word

I generally don't undertake making any resolutions each January 1. I do think about what I want the year to hold, inasmuch as we can influence that kind of thing.  I do believe we can influence ourselves, and that's what I've been more interested in. So this 'one little word' concept seemed a perfect idea for me.

I read about this sometime in 2009 and thought it was a neat idea. And promptly forgot it until Ali Edwards put a post about her 2010 word up this week. And with little effort, I came up with engage. It's something I tend not to do - hence the photography, one gets to be behind the lens and watch. I have a reserve that I almost always have to overcome to begin something new, try new things/places/people, walk into a room full of people and so on. So for these and some other reasons, my word will be engage.


And since many of you are bloggers you must also love words, and that's why I'm sharing this with you.




From Ali Edwards' blog:

Can you identify a single word that sums up what you want for yourself in 2007 2010?


It can be something tangible or intangible. It could be a thought or a feeling or an emotion. It can be singular or plural. The key is to find something that has personal meaning for you. This is not your mother's word or your spouse's word or your child's word - this is YOUR word.

One little word can have big meaning in your life if you allow yourself to be open to the possibilities. And here's one thing that is totally interesting: sometimes a word will pop into your brain and it will not make any sense to you right now. Give it some time. Let it percolate a bit. I have often found that our hearts speak to us in very unique ways. Maybe this is a word you need to hear but just aren't ready for it yet. Again, be open to the possibilities.





What's your word?

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en-gage/[en-geyj]


–verb (used with object)
1. to occupy the attention or efforts of (a person or persons): He engaged her in conversation.

2. to secure for aid, employment, use, etc.; hire: to engage a worker; to engage a room.

3. to attract and hold fast: The novel engaged her attention and interest.

4. to attract or please: His good nature engages everyone.

5. to bind, as by pledge, promise, contract, or oath; make liable: He engaged himself to repay his debt within a month.

6. to betroth (usually used in the passive): They were engaged last week.

7. to bring (troops) into conflict; enter into conflict with: Our army engaged the enemy.

8. Mechanics. to cause (gears or the like) to become interlocked; interlock with.

9. to attach or secure.

10. Obsolete. to entangle or involve.



–verb (used without object)

11. to occupy oneself; become involved: to engage in business or politics.

12. to take employment: She engaged in her mother's business.

13. to pledge one's word; assume an obligation: I was unwilling to engage on such terms.

14. to cross weapons; enter into conflict: The armies engaged early in the morning.

15. Mechanics. (of gears or the like) to interlock.





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Repeat the Sounding Joy

This was my favorite hymn when I was young.  I remember playing it over and over in the den, on my record player.  I liked singing it in church because it was big, and happy sounding...and I knew the words. I fell away for several years, and transferred my favors to another Christmas hymn. 

Today, when I googled the song, I learned that it was not written for Christmas, and that all the original verses are no longer used - we only use the second half now. It's my favorite again this year, probably because we all need some joy as we catch our breath at the end of a trying 2009 and an unknown 2010. So today, I wish you all the gift of joy. May you find it in big things and small, and carry it in your hearts throughout the next year.

Joy to the world! the Lord is come;

Let earth receive her King;

Let every heart prepare him room,

And heaven and nature sing,

And heaven and nature sing,

And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.

Verse 2

Joy to the Earth! the Saviour reigns;

Let men their songs employ;

While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains

Repeat the sounding joy,

Repeat the sounding joy,

Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

Merry Christmas!

God bless us,

every one.

Nuts!

I made two batches of these fairly quickly last night.  They are Maple Rosemary Nuts and the mix I picked is pecan-cashew-peanut.  It's a new recipe, and I like it - sort of a sweet and savory thing.

You can find the recipe at Food In Jars, which is a new blog I found.  Her current post is about a pot of pinto beans that she recently made and it makes my mouth water.  I think I may have to try this after Christmas. 

Back to wrapping - and re-wrapping if the truth be told.  The Unwrapping Elf is on the move this morning.

Christmas Bullet List

• The annual tradition of the last-minue-make-it-myself Christmas card is complete. Now I just have to go buy stamps and mail them. This year's theme is The Unwrapping Elf.


• Christmas Day menu


• Shopping for Christmas Day menu


• Wrap gifts


• Make cookies and roast nuts (new recipe)


• Make peanut butter fudge (only if I get to it before it gets rainy again)


• Go to a movie or 3 (Avatar, The Blind Side, and one more I can't remember)


• Laundry, laundry, laundry


• Catch up my December daily album - I've been taking pictures, just not putting them in the book


• Coordinate visits to family and friends


• Decide on the 5:30 pm or the 10:30 pm church service on Christmas Eve. Last year the music was a little sophisticated for someone sitting in church at 10:30, warm and beginning to get drowsy. Perhaps the 5:30 communion service is the ticket this year.

Whew! Good thing it's downhill the rest of the way.

Retriever

"What do you mean 'leave it'? I'm supposed to retrieve birds."

Holiday Bar

This makes me giggle...but I'm not sure why. Is it the rather obvious port-a-john? The tangled lights? The "Go for the Gold Tonight/Happy Birthday Jill"?

Anyway, hope this makes you smile, too.

Use What You Have decorating

I found this post today that encapsulates the holiday look I like. Of course, everyone puts their own spin on it. I will have more pictures of my decorating up in a day or so because folks are coming for bridge tonight! Must be finished!

http://frugalfarmhousedesign.blogspot.com/2009/12/some-inexpensive-ideas.html

Welcome

My house is small, so finding room for decorations is tough. I also have to be sure that a certain quadra-ped with yellow fur doesn't eat the decorations, but that's another story.

So I wasn't thrilled that the most logical space for the creche was just inside the front door.

But then I took this picture, and it seemed a great fit. The manger scene is topped by a chicken scratch Welcome. Seems appropriate somehow.

Mantel

Here's where I am on the mantel. Clear lights, burlap, gilded pine cones and I'm thinking of adding one of my big shells to the center there.

The sparkle snowflakes propped up - one of them - will be hung from the left sconce.

I realized this year just how shallow the mantel is. Looks like something that needs to be remedied this year.

Holiday decorating

So, after years of accumulating holiday ornaments, I have finally figured out what appeals to me because I have seen it this year. It is the natural look that coalesced this year: burlap, shells, silver glass balls, clear lights and twine. It's probably not new, it just finally penetrated my consciousness.

Then I saw this display of vintage looking glass balls in a Pottery Barn catalog and thought of the sconces on the dining room wall.


My interpretation is below. And to tell the truth, I'm pretty pleased. Although, I think I will change out the twine I used for something either more rustic, or with a very light silver or blue color.


Now I've got to try to make the mantle and Christmas tree fit in.

Pictures with Santa

Let me set the stage - the office was set up with goodies on a table in corner of the office. The man with the beard was set up in the treatment area. It was amazing. My girl Cotton is on your left, and Gus, well, Gus is on the right.



There are photos with both of them still, but I think these convey the fun. Gus was beside himself. He wanted to visit with Santa, you know, give him a big slurp and investigate (chew) the pipe. When we finished, he quickly located the snacks.

Gus sort of did his playing dead trick for everyone. He couldn't stay down long enough to really be dead (with all 4 legs in the air), but he got his treat.

This group has seen us through swallowing the latex hamburger, swallowing the plastic greenery, eating the silica packet, ear issues, limps, back injuries, reflux, allergies...the list is so long I think I'm leaving something off. Oh, yes, well dog care is what's missing!

I can't say enough about this clinic. I'd be comfortable with either of the vets - Dr. Jones or Dr. Weyl - seeing my dogs (I haven't met the newest vet, Dr. Rogers) - they all have wonderful, caring personalities as do the whole staff. Josh, Samantha, JR, Laurie, Laura, Susan and more whose names escape me - thanks for being there.

Saturday Bullets

• I had an inspiring moment about niece and nephew gifts, and my SIL liked my idea. I feel giddy with relief.
• A lot happened this week at work: potluck in our department, a co-worker died suddenly at age 37, I took a day off on Friday. Everyone at work was stunned at our co-worker's death. It is truly tragic as he leaves a wife and 7 year old behind.
• Today will be a new day in dog/vet relations: Gus and Cotton will have their photo made with Santa. That Santa normally wears a white coat is a real plus. The last time we were at the vet, Gus lay on the floor with his head against the vent because he could hear the vet talking.
• Observation: there is no mess like the ones we create for ourselves, is there Tiger?
• Made a white chili recipe last night - LOVE IT!
• Took my mom to TOYS-R-US last night. That place scares me. Too many choices.
• Today is decorating day.
• There is a cardinal in my window box. I need to put out the bird feeder.

Have a great Saturday!

Starlight

White Flower Farmhouse is a blog I follow...and they have beautiful things. When this went up in the store, I was hooked.

It's vintage, and french, they say. I just love the shape. It surprisingly sturdy for such an airy form.

Got any ornaments that you love, old or new?

The Road Home

Yesterday it was rainy. The ceiling was low: see how the tallest tower in the Southeast disappeared into the clouds?



When I have to pick up the dogs because they've gone to doggie runaround (to wear them out) I go by Merry Mac's, an Atlanta institution. You can get a plate of good food there : a meat and three. It's always hard to choose.

I couldn't remember which building was glowing green here. But it shows up in the top left of the photo.

It was just another rainy night in Georgia.

Early Present

When you're raised on football played in front yards, under Friday night lights and on Saturday afternoons...when your Southern Living magazine subscription comes out with an SEC conference issue in August...when you grow up watching SEC football every Saturday in the Fall...and when 'mixed marriage' means a household split between Alabama football and Auburn football...you enjoy it when your team plays well.

Mark Ingram completes a 69 yard run with a pass from McElroy.

Dec. 5, 2009 Alabama 32, Florida 13 Georgia Dome (Atlanta)

Photo courtesy Birmingham News/Mark Almond

In Merry Pin

I went through a relatively short but intense pin phase. During that time, I gathered pins to wear with my suits because at that time, there was little to do to express personality because the uniform was a navy, charcoal gray or black suit with blouse and sedate heels. The pin was the only dash of color or expression of whimsy one could make.

There are a handful of seasonal pins in the collection: the Junebug, snowflakes, a poinsettia that was a gift (you know who you are ), a Christmas tree in shades of green crystals, and my favorite, a partridge in a pear tree.

I believe traditions are what you repeat each year that bring meaning and depth to an event: certain foods, the Christmas eve midnight service at church, get togethers with friends...repeating these things each year creates a link back through the years and makes an unknown future here on on Earth less anonymous. Knowing that we will repeat these things with family and friends is something to look forward to.

Each year as Christmas approaches, I find myself wondering when I will reach for the Christmas tree pin, the poinsettia or the partridge, because that is the indicator that holiday has started for me.

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In Merry Pin: in a merry mood or good spirits. Old tankards were divided in eight equal parts, each marked by a silver pin. The cup held two quarts and the amount from pin to pin was a Winchester pint. By the rules of good fellowship, the drinker was to only stop drinking at the pin and if he drank beyond it, he was to drink to the next one. As it was very hard to stop on the pin, the efforts gave way to much mirth, with the drinker obliged to drain the tankard.

December 1

I love that Christmas decorations are up when we return from Thanksgiving. It's like a gift from the office building to us. I'm pursuing permission to take some lobby shots - I noticed tonight that the tree and chandelier lights reflected in the atrium's glass ceiling are magical. Since Sept 11, building owners do not lightly tolerate photographers taking pictures of their buildings.