Happy New Year!

The best way to start the new year is with a celebration and what better to celebrate than the 32nd anniversary of my 21st birthday. Some may say its been done before, but I say we could always do it better. As always my gift list is up to date on Amazon. We will be having lunch at Granny's on Sunday the 18th (we are still working on getting the rest of the world to recognize the 19th as Miles the Younger Day). Shrimp will be served, so bring lots of presents.

Here We Come A-Wassailing

Love and joy come to you,
And to you your wassail too;
And God bless you and send you a Happy New Year
And God send you a Happy New Year.

The old family Wassail recipe:

2 quarts Apple Cider
2 1/4 cups Pineapple Juice
2 cups Orange Juice
1 cup Lemon Juice
1/2 cup Sugar
1 Stick Cinnamon (3 inches)
1 teaspoon Whole Cloves
1 Orange

Combine the juices and sugar in a large pot and heat until boiling.
Slice the orange in half and stick the cloves into the rind. Place the orange halves clove side down into the juices. Drop in the Cinnamon stick and simmer. Can be served immediately or enhanced with other beverages (strictly for medicinal purposes).

The word Wassail comes from the Anglo-Saxon toast wæs þu hæl, "be thou hale" or be in good health. The word changed from Old Norse "ves heill" to "wes hal" and then to Wassail.

However you want to say it or drink it, Be thou in Good Health!

Another Chili Party Has Come and Gone

I don't know if we set a record for attendees, but there were less than four bowls left at the end of the night. This is the first time there was not enough left over to freeze. I guess I'll have to make more next year.

For all those that could not make it, we hope to see you here next year.

Fate of the Old Family Blog

For those of you holding out signing on to this new site, JotSpot is now part of Google. Just check out our old page.

Its Chili Time!

It is time once again for the Annual Chili Party and as always it will be on the Saturday before Christmas Eve. Everyone is invited to stop by and enjoy a bowl of Christmas Chili. Please call 409-866-6518 if you additional directions.

Winnie's List

Wish List, in no particular order:

Donation to Animals Asia to save the Moon Bears
https://www.animalsasia.org/donate/

Art Print – lounging dog from Coldwater Creek
http://www.coldwatercreek.com/Products/Product.aspx?productid=42943&ensembleid=48880

West Wing DVD -- any season

Porch Light
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100026808&N=10000003+527074+10042007

Music (use Amazon link on Kara’s Blog)
Jimmy LaFave Road Novel
Jimmy LaFave Trail
Jimmy LaFave Blue Nightfall
Jimmy LaFave Cimarron Manifesto
Jimmy LaFave Texoma

Cuisinart Electric Kettle

Happy shopping!!

All I Want for Christmas...past present & future

I went back & looked at the list I had on the old blog (I copied it before the blog went kaput)...not much has changed. I still have the same dishes, the same taste in music, and the same, basic needs.

But, what has changed is the fact that I am now looking to re build a house...which, of course will require A LOT of building materials and the like, some stuff I don't even know I'll need yet. This makes it incredibly difficult to create a wish list for the NEEDS of the project.

I do have some items of furniture selected for the house, even though the house is not exactly ready for furniture. It's not even ready for walls, yet! But, I will add the links to these little nuggets, just in case you wanted to start saving. The chairs, for example would be an EXCELLENT Christmas '09,'10,'11,& '12 + birthdays 32, 33, 34, & 35 + a housewarming gift, + a World's Greatest Nannie Day present!

So, here is My List...most of which you have already seen, some of which has been added just for fun! I will work diligently to get links to all of this and/or some sort of something on amazon. I don't promise links before Christmas. If I get a stocking full of IOUs I will be just as happy as if I unwrapped everything on the list. Trust me...storage space is at a premium right now, so a piece of paper that promises a gift will be MUCH easier to pack away!

$5-$10:Purple Argyle Socks (like the ones Ra was going to give me, but somehow never got around to*hint hint*)
$10-$15:CDs I would like to have include:
Any of the more recent stuff from Maroon 5, the Killers, Alicia Keys or Leona Lewis spring to mind. I'll put a complete list on my amazon wish list. Any of the new or old stuff from Eric Clapton (like unplugged, Slowhand, etc.) I have 24 Nights, Pilgrim, Money & Cigarettes, and Journeyman, but that's it on CD!), some James Taylor, some Carol King (I have Tapestry), some John Denver (especially one with "Grandma's Feather Bed" on it)

$15-$20: I would like a subscription to either SHAPE or Women's Health magazine. There is a set of resistance bands with handles (purple) & an 8lb. ball (coincidentally, also purple) at Target I've had my eye on.

DVDs I would like to have include
{still working on this part}

$20-$25:

$25-$30:Books I would like to have include:
The Two Georges by Larry Turtledove & Richard Dreyfus
365-No Repeats (cookbook by Rachael Ray)
{still working on this part...buy me something--not Sci Fi--and I'll try it!}

$30 and up:
New watch...cuff bracelet style with a square face and no clasp
{and much much more!}

One Price Fits All:Gift Certificates to the following stores:
**TARGET!!!!!**Bath and Body Works or Bath Junky**Dillard's**JC Penney's**Crate & Barrel **World Market**Pier 1**

Sets of dishes I currently collect:
Fiestaware--all colors, all pieces are welcomed (I have 6 complete settings, but I'm not sure which colors...I don't mind if they are duplicated, though) French Garden Fleurence from Villeroy & Boch (I ONLY have 2 complete settings of this stuff, so ANY of it would be most welcomed) Imperatrice Eugenie from Haviland (ok, technically not officially started, yet, but you can be the first!) 'Asian-inspired' Melamine set from Target...now discontinued (If you find some brown plastic cups at Target, though, those would be appreciated) Penguin Skate (Christmas) from Pfaltzgraff Etchings (Christmas) from Lenox*I would like to start collecting a plastic dinnerware for the Christmas season--shocker that I found some I like at Target! I also have a complete set (100 pieces) of some that are just solid purple--more like an eggplant color, so if I find something to use with these, I can make that set stretch.

Please realize that this is a work in progress. I promise to get the links up soon (possibly before my next birthday!)