My "to do" list

To Do Lists- we all have them. But the trick is to get the tasks listed on them completed in a timely manner. Some of my tasks need to be done today and others by the end of the week and some are simply on going things I do on a daily basis.
Here's my list for today/this week...
♥ change sheets/make beds (2) DONE
♥ tidy up daughters bedroom DONE
♥ quick wipe down of bathrooms (2 up and 1 down) DONE
♥ assemble Christmas tree -DONE
♥ laundry-wash/dry/fold/put away- In Progress
♥ condition leather sofa
♥ vacuum stairs
♥ vacuum downstairs- DONE
♥ vacuum upstairs rooms DONE
♥ tailor daughters new skirt-DONE
♥ curb wheelie bin DONE
♥ decorate Christmas Tree- DONE
♥ write Christmas newsletter In Progress
♥ start planning pottery shopping trip to Stoke-on-Trent In Progress
♥ mend straps on daughters camisole- DONE
♥ work on kindle covers (these are Christmas presents) IN PROGRESS
♥ draw up plan for new tote bag design (gift for daughter) In Progress
♥ wax eyebrows- DONE
♥ remove gray from hair
♥ remind friends that I only have 3 months left here in the UK-DONE
♥ look through winter clothes- donate unwanted items- In Progress
♥ schedule mammogram
♥ write snail mail letter to those girlfriends who refuse to use e-mail-DONE
♥ make a grocery shopping list-In Progress
♥ mop hardwood floors-DONE

quote of the day

The 'Net is a waste of time, and that's exactly what's right about it.
- William Gibson

making room for the tree

My lovely British military house was not designed in the modern era that's for sure! Even with the 10 month renovation it underwent last year, it's still the same size -okay so a laundry room/mud room was added on, that still doesn't add anything to the areas of this house that need to be larger. Basically the rooms of my British house are small in comparison to American rooms. Trying to fit a Christmas tree in the living room is like trying to put on a pair of shoes that are one size too small- you can do it but it doesn't feel good and you're not going to wear them for very long. That's pretty much sums up how I feel about cramming a Christmas tree into this living room.

So here I am, I'm taking a break from moving our furniture here and there. I've had to put a couple of pieces of furniture in the formal dining room that were in the living room- all because I want to have a Christmas tree. Now both rooms are packed with wall to wall furniture. Oh there's nothing quite like that claustrophobic feeling of furniture closing in on you for Christmas, LOL!

On a lighter note, my husband did get the Christmas lights strung on the house before the temperature dipped into the teens last night. Brrrr, it sure is nippy out there today! We're expecting some snow tonight!

Is it December yet?

November is going by in a flash! Now to get on with business at hand...

My Elves workshop is now open! I've got about a dozen sewing projects to complete, more mini cheesecakes to make than you can shake a stick at and let's get to thinking about that Christmas newsletter that I have to write (ugh). As if I'm not busy enough, lets throw in a DV visit to our base, the cookie drive (we now have 60 airmen to make cookies for), a dorm dinner, a hearts apart dinner, a spouses club event (I'm making a soup for it- can you guess what kind?), an orthodontic appointment, maintenance coming to fix a few things, a handful of Christmas parties to attend AND our son arriving back in the UK with his girlfriend. Needless to say December keeps me quite busy! That's all of the extra stuff I have going on- I still need to keep the daily stuff I do around this place. All I can say is Coffee don't fail me now!

quote of the day

Either I've been missing something

or

nothing has been going on.
- Karen Elizabeth Gordon

Me vs. the turkey

Some turkeys take longer to defrost than others...mine happened to take 6 days and there were still ice crystals in it's cavity this morning! It's not as if this was a huge turkey, actually I bought the smallest one they had at just a little under 12 pounds. Well now my turkey weighs less because I took a meat cleaver to him and took out his spine and cracked the ribcage and made it lie flat.

Since our daughter had school all week, we decided to celebrate our family Thanksgiving today. This is the only time we've delayed having a Thanksgiving meal in our home. But it's guaranteed to be a good meal!

Now for me to get on and to start baking my mini cheesecake desserts (I'm giving those out at Christmas and need to get a start on them as I need to make more than 40 of them!

Today I am thankful for...

Thursday- Being with family and friends
Friday - Being able to spend quality time with my husband
Saturday- Alone time- no one need see me whack a turkey with a cleaver, LOL!

quote of the day

You must learn from the mistakes of others. You can't possibly live long enough to make them all yourself.
- Sam Levenson

Today I am thankful for...

Brackley Antique Cellar and their helpful and knowledgeable staff.

quote of the day

Happiness cannot be complete if you

compromise yourself or your values to attain it.
~unknown

Busy is as Busy does

It's one of those weeks for me- just being plain busy! We Americans are celebrating Thanksgiving this week. Now I had 2 different British women ask me today what Thanksgiving is about (one thought it was our independence day). I told them it's about being thankful for the blessing that you've had throughout the year. It's a time of gathering your family and friends round and being "together". For me, it's a time of community service- giving back to my military and local communities. I'm collecting items to give to the local Food Bank, buying grocery store gift cards to help out a local church, gearing up for serving and hostessing at the big Thanksgiving dinner happening at our base and a whole lot more!

So I better get on with it, tomorrow is the big Pie Social at the base where all sorts of local folks have been invited to attend. Me, well being that everyone seems to be bringing apple, cherry or pumpkin pie to the event I thought that a New York Cheesecake with strawberry topping would be a nice change of pace. I better get myself into the kitchen and start baking it eh?

Today I am Thanksful for...

Having the opportunity to live in England.

quote of the day

Laws are like sausages.

It's better not to see them being made.
- Otto von Bismarck

Baby it's cold outside!

What to do on a rainy day...

• Clean your house
• Do the laundry
• Play with your pet
• Write a letter to a friend
• Read a book
• Watch a movie
• Have copious amounts of tea and biscuits
• Surf the web
• Plan meals for the week
• Wash the windows (on the inside of course)
• Ring up an old friend
• Organize your pantry
• Look through clothing and do repairs
• Change sheets on all of the beds in your house

There's always something to do around MY house, how about yours?

Today I am thankful for...

Sunday-My Parish and my Catholic Faith.
Monday- FREE Heat!

quote of the day

Whatever women do they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily this is not difficult.
- Charlotte Whitton

Prayers needed

Please pray for my friend Laura. I woke up this morning to find out that her daughter Jennifer died yesterday. To suffer the loss of a child, I know of no greater pain a mother could suffer. Please hug your children a little tighter today and keep Laura in your prayers.

Today I am thankful for...

My children.
Over the years they've made me laugh, they've made me cry and in the end I wouldn't trade them for anything! Although I've been known on occasion to tell them (okay so it's more like yell it at them) that I would gladly trade them in for a pack of Chihuahuas when they act up- which really isn't true, I'd still keep my kids (they're potty trained).

quote of the day

A strong positive mental attitude

will create more miracles than any wonder drug.
-Patricia Neal

Today I am thankful for...

Sheep and their soft fuzzy wool! I adore wool sweaters, scarves. hats and mittens!