Get the black eye peas......

 

I'm not much into eating black eyed peas soup...or as some call Hoppin John.....but, I do want us to have a good new year, so, I'll serve ours as a dip...Cowboy Caviar... here's the  basic recipe:

can of black eye peas & black beans

can of sweet corn

Italian dressing

green chiles

spices

mix together, serve with tortilla chips!

I suppose you can doctor it up however you like.....

We also are coming into the Chinese Year of the Tiger....ggrrrr

....GRRRRReat ...a lil Tony thrown in...lol

I've heard different ways to say our New Year....some are calling for Twenty ten...others Two Thousand ten...Why not...ten.  We used 01, 02....ect...why not right?.....We will have a full (blue) moon tonight as well....all this excitement...I might even stay awake to see it all....lol

Our new year is already going to be grrreat...We are expecting our friends from MN to stop by for a visit on Sat...YIPPY!

....hubby is trying to convince our dear friends to stay permanently, keeping our fingers crossed on that one........a couple of weeks later hubby's bro should be flying in for a brief visit....YIPPY again....so our Jan will be a tad busy...!

The lake is a bustling with animals this am....Egrets, blue Herrings....the white diving SST birds...(need to find their real names)....here's a pic from the web of the black ducks (Cormorants) that dive under the water (forever it seems)...to grab their dinner....after their bellies are fully they sit out for a while in the position pictured below to dry themselves off....it's pretty neat watching these guys....

see ya next year...

...throw your penny thought in.......Here's to 'Wishing' for your turn........

After Christmas fun @ Disney.....

Our day started at 9am, chilly, with a slight breeze.  Expected high was to be in the mid 60's.....ok, but when the breeze kicks in I swear it feels as tho you are in 30's....brrr

our "boys" at Epcot...

 

Eldest racing "future" cars...this is the inside of the huge golf ball....

cute little park to rest a bit...

the "jelly's" part of the ride at Nemo's adventure....

The aquarium at Nemo's...here is where we were given a special backstage/behind the scenes private tour.  Very good friends of ours brother works for Disney....we were shown the Dolphins & Manatees up close and personal. no pics tho...the animals do not have their picture taken backstage, so this would confuse or upset them, we dont want to do that.... Thank you Disney, thank you Jimmy for allowing us to have this cherished moment....

 

this is a Habanero pepper tree

this tour showed various ways to garden...truly fascinating, these are red bell pepper plants, behind is a tomato tree the green on top is the canopy full of tomatoes....Ray of Dad's tomato garden will love this.... 

here's a fountain shooting water up instead of down....interesting...

this duck was cute...pink legs...only in FL

the boys playing music...you place your hands thru the goal posts the sensors signal the motion, as you wave or conduct the music onto the screen...really neat...

Hubby on the Segway....

Here's a special memory for us....Eldest stated a couple of times he wanted to meet Mickey...you have to stand in line for a picture & meet/greet...we explained to him this line could be a while...lots of young kids screaming....his reply ok....it's Mickey...he stood in line, eyes bright anticipating the excitement... 45 minutes later....

well worth the wait...I was boo hooing...he was sooooo happy to meet Mickey & Minnie.....(again)...his reply after the meeting them...they remembered me mom...ahhh...

We left the park around 8:30pm after arriving at 9am....a long day...I tried to make it to watch the fireworks....but it was tooo dang cold...I'm trying to sneak out of the pic below...I'm covered up in a wool blanket I had to purchase...

Our day together was wonderful...except the only hiccup was when Eldest & Cboi went on the test track ride..before they got into line, Cboi gave us his cell phone, cuz he had no pockets, Eldest saw this and handed his phone to hubby....no biggie hubby thought...not 2 seconds after they went into the bldg I panicked...I said how will they get in touch with us after, what if something happens..hubby assured me all would be well...I didnt trust him...so, now I had to wait.....Eldest  indeed became separate from his brother...Cboi was put on a ride, then turned and Eldest wasnt on....poor Cboi he panicked his entire ride....Eldest is not good with directions, he is at our sides even in the grocery stores...so to say the least we were worried & afraid Eldest would be really disoriented after he got off a speeding car ride...OI! 

Cboi was not allowed to wait at the spot where they debarked from the ride..he had to wait at another spot..he waited for a couple of rides, then Eldest appeared....whew....

Eldest was fine, he had no idea how panicked we were....Cboi did not want to ride without his brother ever again!

 

Christmas blessings to all...

A very busy day ahead....We have no presents wrapped, no stocking stuffers bought...and the Prime rib still needs to be thawed completely before tonight's meal, and I'm fully rested, entirely blessed, extremely happy to be sooo far behind.

After work yesterday, I arrived home such a bear....I was grumbling like Fred Flintstone, the "boys" didn't know what hit them....Today, I must make it up to them....I sure wouldn't want someone to take their frustrations out on me, so why I did to them.... I need to make a huge effort to walk thru our door and greet them with hugs & kisses....leave work @ work....something to add to my New Years list....

Anyhoo....big big day jamb packed soo....I thought I would pass along 2 de"stressers"....

1st....take time out of your day build a snowman...tis the season....click on:

or Snowman

If you prefer more drastic de"stressers" measure try this site

click on: Bubblewrap

Wishing for your turn.....

Merry Christmas!

Weather, shopping, Open....oh! and Trifling Tuesday.......

  

Yesterday, I had the early shift....it was dang right cold out....FLORIDA cold...... If we wear long sleeve shirts, with a hoodie & blue jeans...then it's dang right cold weather, such was the case yesterday...the morning low was 40ish...I believe the high was 62, but our wind chill brought it down to 59...brr...we're warming today...whew...by Christmas we should be up to 80 again....lol

We had a few "grumpies" at work yesterday.....Listen, if you're grumpy....don't shop, and certainly don't take it out on people whom are servicing you!...Just a lil tip for today!

I had one guy come up to the counter, 1st words out of his mouth..

DONT argue with me I've had a bad day, LISTEN here, I've got this problem..YOU charged me 4.57 and the price is 2.28.  NOW, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS....

my response.....TRY not to laugh!......

He had a bewildered look on his face with my answer...I don't think that was the response he was looking for....

another, customer.....

I dropped my cash on the floor somewhere in here....Did anyone bring you money for the LOST/FOUND......

my response....SERIOUSLY?!

my favorite tho was this one

from a caller...

(me) Hello, how may I assist you?.....

(caller) ARE YOU Open, your phone system says your closed, but I want to buy something with you today...

(me) yes, we are Open...I'll check into why our phone systems states otherwise...

(caller)...well, I just want to make sure you're Open...cuz the phone said you're not...

(me) yes, WE ARE OPEN...I'll WILL CHECK THE AUTOMATIC PHONE SYSTEM TO SEE AS TO WHY IT'S STATING WE ARE CLOSED....you may come in and shop til 9pm today....

(caller) ...well, If I get there and you guys aren't Open, I don't want to drive all that way.....

(me) silently......OI!

 

 

There are 293 ways to make change for a dollar.

It's impossible to sneeze with your eyes open.

Nothing much...got pics tho!

 

had date night with hubby...we watched Star Trek @ home... really funny & good movie......the "boys" went to a basketball tournament...it was nice to have some "us" time...we rarely get the time alone cuz "eldest" is always with us....Och un vai, thus 'Wishing for my turn'....

time to share pics...

here are the poinsettia's (who knew you can plant these outside)....Since I'm originally from CO I've always had one inside for decorations.....

 

C-boi shaving eldest for me...Eldest participated with cousins in No shave Nov...he wanted to show his bro how well he did....he was a Yeti!.

 

Sylvester not making it completely into his bed to sleep....

 

 

Vulcher's eating in our backyard...geesh!...these guys were huge...Mercedes wanted to attack them....lol

 

  

 

 

 

Oi! I'm behind!

 

We are currently under severe weather alert...watching for tornadoes... difficult news to hear, 1st thing in the morn.....

The rain is falling quick, making a beautiful sound as it hits the water, filling our lake to its brim. There are several storms, so we will experience rain through out the day, coastal flooding is a concern as well...

It looks as tho today is a non shopping, I dont want to leave the house day...I have worked the pass 6, and I am behind the 8 ball in house work.  Of course C-boi brought his laundry, adding to my work load....as a return favor...hum, I'm thinking, he can run errands and clean my car.....for starters....lol

We decorated the family room tree yesterday...Eldest wanted to wait to decorate with his bro...nice huh!

I bought some Christmas decorations from work last night...50% off....I needed more green garland...I found cute snowflake yard decorations too..

I've got a boat load to dooooo

enjoy todays menu selection.

Avocado Tacos

• 3 avocados - peeled, pitted, and mashed
• 1/4 cup onions, diced
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
• 12 (6 inch) corn tortillas
• 1 bunch fresh cilantro leaves, finely chopped
• jalapeno pepper sauce, to taste

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
2. In a medium bowl, mix avocados, onions, and garlic salt.
3. Arrange corn tortillas in a single layer on a large baking sheet, and place in the preheated oven 2 to 5 minutes, until heated through.
4. Spread tortillas with the avocado mixture. Garnish with cilantro and sprinkle with jalapeno pepper sauce.

Trifling Tuesday...& ..Cappuccino recipe..

Hummingbirds are the smallest birds — so tiny that one of their enemies is an insect, the praying mantis.

In Alaska, it is legal to shoot bears. However, waking a sleeping bear for the purpose of taking a photograph is prohibited.

  Cappuccino in a Jar 

 

2/3 cup instant coffee granules

1 cup powdered non-dairy creamer

1 cup powdered chocolate drink mix

1/2 cup white sugar

3/4 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

                            

Have ready 2 (12 ounce) canning jars. Put the instant coffee into a food processor, and process to a fine powder. If you don't have a food processor, put it into a large plastic bag, and crush with a rolling pin.    In a large bowl, combine creamer, chocolate mix, instant coffee, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Stir together until well mixed. Spoon into 2 - 12 ounce jars.    Attach a note to each jar that reads: Cappuccino: Mix 3 tablespoons of powder with 6 fluid ounces hot water.

 

 

Thought I would share a quick recipe & possible last minute Christmas present.....

We watched the Polar Express last night.  1st time for hubby.....Eldest was wonderful, so cute...he really got into the movie...he will tell the kid...dont fall off the train...and his eye's lit up when Santa appeared....oh, the gifts of the Special Needs....

 

I have a short morning shift today, after I get home, I think Eldest & I will hit a bucket of golf balls....it's going to be 85 degrees today, with Isolated showers...

I need to take pics of our outdoors Christmas lights & during the daytime hours show our Poinsettias...who knew you could just plop them in the ground??...