I haven't announced this yet......my hours have changed!  

I now work 10am - 3pm, still 5 hours.  It's been only 2 weeks and I'm still trying to adjust and

solidfy my new routine. 

Pros: 

Get out during daylight hours!

Not really a receptionist anymore (don't have a title at this point, just doing administrative stuff)

Don't have members coming in bugging me all day

Not responsible for every little thing in the building (in a new building with a receptionist)

Working strictly with Development (the group above, although 3 people have left since this "moving day" photo was taken)

Cons: 

I am now being consulted on what to make for dinner (Pete)

Can't enjoy my coffee in the morning, unless I get up realllllly early (not happening)

Have to change my exercise routine (that seems to be working out really well)

All in all I think it will work out nicely, especially when the hour changes back, I'll have time when I get home to do some gardening during the week!

I'm even thinking of adding a few hours by working in the Members' Lounge and/or Membership Cart; have already talked to Eddie about that!

That's the latest and the greatest!!!!

No photos because..... you know who, him that shall remain nameless, has screwed up my internet service!

Christmas was great!  Quiet, low key and everyone was happy with their gifts.  Only one return, actually an exchange, there were 2 left slippers in the box Pete got, so that was exchanged yesterday.

I really didn't plan on going out yesterday, but Rocky wanted to, so off we went and by the time we got home it was late and I didn't get to do anything else.  We had tons of leftovers so Pete reheated dinner - yeh!

And then onto "Dr. Who"!   Rocky has us watching Dr. Who episodes from the BEGINNING!  For this weekend I am requesting MOVIES and a break from Dr. Who, not that I don't like it, but I'd like to see something different! 

A note on my sugar cookies this year.............for years I have been looking for the perfect icing recipe and I have found it!  Actually, I had it all along thanks to Diane Wittenberg!  Diane, I finally tried your icing recipe!  It is perfect!  I can't believe I didn't have to waste a ton of time experimenting this year.  So, now I have the perfect sugar cookie recipe and icing..................my life is complete (ha)!

Hope you all had a great Christmas! 



Merry Christmas!!!

Day 2

Cookies - done!

Day 3

Here are my jars all done!  All gifts are out!  Only gifts left are for Christmas day!

Starting wrapping and need to finish........

Day 4

Nancy's gift..........a gathering.  We went to Chateaulin for appetizers and drinks.  I love Chateaulin!  It was very yummy!  We all dressed in holiday garb (except Eddie and David; not in our department, but invited).

We had a little fun and played some games.  It was a great evening.  

Day 5

Coquito!  Made 2 batches, some for home and the rest for gifts.......

Wouldn't be Christmas without it!

Day 6

This was the year of keeping it simple...............so, it was the white tree.  Here it is all done up!

One of my favorite decorations!  I bought it at a great craft show in Las Vegas many moons ago!   Since I've moved to Oregon, it seems to always reside in the same spot.  I love it!

Day 8

Christmas gifts.............

Going to make Cranberry Hootycreek layered cookie jars as gift for...................sorry, I'll have to disclose that at a later date.

I have some older recipes but decided to search the web for something new and came up with these.  Funny thing!  A couple of years ago I bought some digital images of jar tops, recipe tags, etc. for cookies, this recipe is one of them!

Of course I will post a photo once I have the jars all dolled up!

Day 7

Changing things up......

I've had the sled for a while, I made the Santa ages ago and the Christmas trees.......decided they needed to be on the dining table this year!

Day 9

A very big Happy Birthday to my dear nephew and godson, Brandon (photographed with his youngest, Lola)!  One of the best Christmas gifts back in 1976!

Day 10

Christmas cards.............

Are they a thing of the past?  Pete seems to think so.  My friend Tom at work said "who writes Christmas cards these days?"

Hmmmm, am I too much of a traditionalist?  Is this something I should give up?

We haven't received too many yet, but I find they usually come closer to the 25th.  

Mine are all done, and should have been received by now.  If you haven't received one it's because I have cut my list down.  I only mail cards to long distance family and friends.  I do enjoy getting the ones that have a Christmas letter or note attached to them.  Let's face it, we do not keep in touch with everyone we know all the time.   I find it's a good way to catch up on everyone's life.  I do get disappointed when it's a long distance friend and no note is attached........leaves me wondering how their life is going!   

Day 11

2 batches of my fudge; one for us, one for my nephew Brandon and his family

I've been making the "Eagle" brand sweetened condensed recipe for many years, I actually have their cookbook.

This year I made the traditional and I made one batch of creamy to try something different.  The only difference is you add 2 cups of mini marshmallows, I think it might be pretty good.  

Oh, and this fudge is the quickest and done in the microwave!

12 Days of Christmas

Going to try a post a day until Christmas.

Today is all about mailing packages......

Have one more package to throw in this morning and away I go - done!

(well, maybe not Marie's, since I'm still waiting on that one, sorry Marie)

This year I have discovered "flat rate" post office boxes, so I'm using two of those for back east mailings.  

M.I.A.

Life get's in the way.............yes, I have been MIA. 

Since I'm back today, I'll share some photos of a little Christmas book I made for one of the nephews and his family.

Bought 2 of these last year after Christmas.  They're Kaiser Craft board books, very few pages, so I inserted extra pages so they can fit in a few extra photos.
I also put a transparency behind the cover so they can insert photos into the windows.
I like the way it came out, hope they like it!



Still not in the holiday spirit!  I hope this passes!  Maybe it's because I don't have anything planned!  I'm not hosting any parties this year, could that be the reason?  

Either way, I pretty much just have my "small" village up, the tree and mantel done.  

Hopefully, I will finish decorating on Saturday.  Jenn's party is on Sunday and maybe that will make me less "Bah-hum-bug"!

Wreath done!

(just need to put a little something on it)

Found our perfect spot from a few years ago!

I was not that crazy about the spot Pete picked last year to cut our tree.  I asked to go back to the original area, but could not remember where the spot was.  Took a chance on going down a mile maker and lo and behold it was the area!  Because we were direct in getting to a spot, we were quick in finding a nice tree.  It wasn't my first choice, but I think my first choice would have been too wide, so this was my second choice.  We cut a little from the bottom so it's a little shorter.  

It will be decorated when Rocky gets home!