Happy New Year!

What a whirlwind!

I hope everyone had a great holiday! Scott and I started Christmas morning at home. It was so nice to wake up in our own home, have a nice quiet Christmas morning, then get on the road. We spent the afternoon at my BIL Gary's and then drove to Maine to have Christmas with my Mom. It was a very long day! The next morning, as I was making breakfast, Scott ran down the stairs yelling that there were turkeys in the back yard. Indeed, there were 4, but they were moving fast and I had no time to take a photo. We sat down for breakfast, and I looked out the window, and saw this:

I have never seen an owl in nature (only at zoos), and this one was in the back yard, not 10 feet from where we were sitting! He was gorgeous, and I was mesmerized. He stayed there for quite a while, and I got video of him turning his head around! Awesome!!! I think this is a sign - that I will have peace and tranquility in my life in the upcoming year. Here's hoping!!!

SNOW

We got a TON of snow on Saturday/Sunday! Luckily, I was home for the day and had a great time shoveling, making Christmas gifts, wrapping Christmas gifts, making fudge and straightening up the house. I will bring my packages to the UPS store (I love that place - no more looking for the perfect size boxes!) and send everything out tonight. Hopefully it will all be there in time, but if it is not, I know my family will understand. I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday!

DO NOT USE FOR STORAGE!!!

We had a bit of a fire last night. We bought our house from a little old lady who lived there for 80 years. She had a relatively new stove – purchased in 2006 and by the looks of it the oven had never been used. Scott was coming home around 7:30, and since it was so cold and late, I thought I’d just put a frozen pizza in the oven – you know quick and easy.

So, Scott got home and I started preheating the oven. After a few minutes, we noticed a peculiar smell. We figured it was because the oven had never been used. A few minutes after that, the smoke alarm went off, and I look in the window of the oven, where there was a spectacular fire!!! I knew there was nothing stored in the oven – I checked. I also knew it would be a bad idea to open it until the flames went out. I’ve killed some Tupperware in my time…

So the flames go out and I open the drawer under the stove. The drawer that is used for storage. You know, you put your cookie sheets or frying pans down there. The drawer that I hadn’t bothered to open yet because there was just so much more pressing stuff to do. So I open the drawer and find a broiling pan, on top of which is a black pile of ash. If I had to guess, I would say it had once been the owners manual. I pull out the broiling pan and put it into the sink. Pounded into the metal bottom of the drawer is a very important message. “DO NOT USE FOR STORAGE”.

I blame the little old lady.

Pizza turned out pretty good, actually!

Giving is a great feeling!

That may seen like a very selfish statement, but you can't deny it's validity. Yesterday was our charity day at work, where we had a silent auction, a bake sale and catered lunch, where all the proceeds go to families in need. There are so many of them this year! I donated quite a few items to the silent auction - there were so many things I had in my house that I never even removed from the boxes! Gifts from well meaning folks, and now two other people will benefit! The person who won the item in the auction, and the recipients of the charity. I strongly believe re-gifting is okay when it is a donation to charity. If you re-gift in place of going out and actually buying a gift for someone, that's just not very nice. Having been the recipient of some very obvious re-gifts (Did you really give me the stitching kit you got as a freebie when you subscribed to that stitching magazine? Because I subscribed to it too, and now I have 2 copies of the exact same freebie stitching kits. Coincidence? I think not.), I can say it is kind of a sucky feeling. And when you think about it, it's not really a "gift". I suppose it could be called "recycling" - you don't want to throw it away, because it's still good, so you leave it on the curb hoping someone will want it and take it. Except worse, because when you factor in the whole "It's the thought that counts!" message taught to us by our mothers, what re-gifters are actually telling us is "You're not worthy of an actual gift, but I'll wrap some garbage for you."

Hmm...this was not supposed to be a rant...

Anyway, we raised almost 2 grand for our charity, and that is a great feeling!

Out with the old, in with the new!

No, I'm not talking about New Year's. I'm speaking of friendships. 2009 has been quite a year, full of surprises and discoveries, both good and bad. I closed the door on a 20+ year friendship this fall. It was painful - not so much the ending of the friendship, but the reason for it. (As it turns out, it was not a friendship after all, therefore, good riddance!) But I must say, one thing I am truly grateful for is a different (although not "new" - we have been friends for a few years) friendship that has grown this past year into something truly valued and appreciated. This person has taught me so much about what real friendship is - and she has been there for me in more ways than I could have ever imagined. We have laughed together and cried together, worked together and played together, but most importantly, we have stood together and faced our fears knowing that if we faltered, the other would be right there to lend a hand. Thank you, Leslie, for blessing my life with your friendship.

Party on, Kat!

Tonight is Scott's department Christmas party. He works in Radiology, and there are more people in his department than in my entire company. For the past couple of years, we have skipped the party, but not this year. We need to get out and have some fun fun fun!!!

Before we moved to Bridgewater, we lived in Boston for 6 years. During that time, I have never driven into the city. With a bus stop literally feet from our front door, there was no need. That was what I told people. The REAL reason? I HATE getting lost. It is the absolute WORST feeling, and to avoid it, I refused to go to new places if I could avoid it. Last year, my mother gave me a GPS as a thank you gift, and it is the BEST gift I have ever received! Now, I go to places I have never been before , without a second thought.

My reason for this story? I am driving in to the city of Boston tonight. I'm excited and terrified at the same time! I think by the time I get to the party (Scott is going directly from work), I'll need a drink!

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Christmas 2010

No, I don't have the date wrong. Since we just bought our house, we decided to not put up all our decorations, but to instead focus on unpacking and getting things in order. Then, I immediately caved, and put up the Christmas tree. Hey, it cheered me up! But that was it - I love Christmas and we have a TON of decorations, but they are currently stored in the basement until next year. My brother and sister-in-law are coming for Christmas next year, and I am SO EXCITED! The best part? I have an entire year to plan, AND if I need any decorations (yeah, right) I can get them this year AT THE CLEARANCE SALES!!! So, while everyone else is decorating for Christmas 2009, I am anxiously looking forward to Christmas 2010.

Yes, I am crazy.

Well, it sorta worked

I raced home last night and put up our Christmas tree! I managed to get it up and the lights on before Scott got home, and wouldn't you know, he walked right by the window - never even noticed it! I had to bring him back outside to show him. But, it DID make him smile, and that was my goal!

We are still working on getting all our boxes unpacked and putting everything away. I will be donating a LOT of things to my company's Christmas auction, where the proceeds benefit the Neediest Families Fund. That will help us both!

I can't wait for this weekend - it will be our first full weekend in our new home. I love this house!!!

Too busy to be allowed

I need a vacation! I have so many things I want to get done at the house, it's all I can think about! I am making lists galore! I have a surprise planned for my husband tonight - I think I am going to put up our Christmas tree. We were supposed to put it up on Sunday but we were so busy doing other things it didn't get done. Tuesday night I put up my tiny one in the hallway, but it's just not cutting it. So, the big one will go up tonight. I am hoping I will have it up and decorated by the time he gets home. I hope it will make him smile!