Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Happy New Year

Check out my other blog Keepsake Moments and register to win my giveaway and then register with all the other 60 + participants for some great giveaways in Whirl Into Winter with Debi. It starts tomorrow Jan 1, 2009!!

gin

Sunday, December 28, 2008

What a wonderful year

2008 is drawing to an end. Like any other year, this year has had its pros and cons. So here's a look back over this year:

Let's start with Trent:
Trent bought a cute brick house in Livingston. He closed on the property and moved in March 1. He got engaged in May and they broke up in September. Trent sold his house in November and bought a 5th wheel trailer. He plans to work out of state 6 months at a time and will take the 5th wheel trailer to where he will be working and live there and then move back for the rest of the year. I don't know how this will work out, but we will see. At the moment he is parked on my family property in Walker.

Jennifer & Rob:
They celebrated their 1st year wedding anniversary in October.

Brandon & Julie:
They also celebrated their 1st year wedding anniversary this year and will celebrate their 2nd year wedding anniversary in January.

We bought a new boat this year, and have taken advantage of every chance we could to go on a fishing expedition.

The new Bass Pro opened in Denham Springs this year, and we spent our fair share of time shopping there.

Enjoyed celebrating each family members birthday and each holiday.
And there was the sadness in the loss of family members also.

There was snow in December.

Our old friends (Della & Ruben) from next door on Walker South also bought a "get-away" home in MS.

Finally got a job that I have stayed at longer than 3 months. I've been there a year now, only because the pay is good.

I can't not mention the 2008 Presidential election. No one knows what the president-elect will face in 2009. With the economy, wars, the bail-outs, and recession that is ending the old year 2008, we can only hope for a better 2009.

Gas prices are $1.46 a gallon. Earlier this year we were paying $3.89 a gallon.

There were some sad times that are rather personnel that I won't go into. But I will work on them and hope I can change them in the year 2009.

So here's to 2009, may God bless each one of you and your family in this new year, and may God Bless America in 2009.

gin

Friday, December 26, 2008

The Ritchie Family Christmas 2008

Oh what fun it is to ride to mom and dad's in the wilderness.
What another great Christmas we enjoyed.
Christmas last more than 1 day around our family.

Several days before Christmas, all the girls in the family meet at one of our homes. This year it was at Bobbie's. We have a Christmas lunch, we say no gifts, and we do Peg's birthday. The day always has an unusual outcome, but needless to say it is always entertaining!

Christmas Eve with my side of the family with my father. We meet at my dad's. After all the families arrive and we sit around enjoying conversation and then do the gift thing. We enjoy some snacks and coca cola and Dr pepper.

Christmas morning and noon with our kids and their families. Plans were to be here by 10 am and we would do gifts first and then Christmas dinner and then we all go to husbands family because Brandon and Julie were leaving early to go back to her family's Christmas. But change in plans (because one group was late arriving). But no harm done, just re-group and proceed with the day.

Once everyone has arrive, we have Christmas dinner. We begin with saying Grace and thanking God for His Son born on this day. '

This was my Christmas table before anyone arrived.
This is my Christmas table with the damage being done....

We read the Christmas Story from Luck 2:10-14. Then there were the the exchange of gifts among all. We drew names so each person only had to give 1 gift. It isn't really necessary for each person to have to give all the other people a gift. That would be giving 12 gifts at 1 Christmas gathering and getting 12 gifts in returns. Because there's the other side of their family to do, too.

We had fun. Jennifer started with giving her gift to the name she drew. Then after that person opened his/her gift, he/she gave their gift to the one they drew, and so on. It does take quiet some time to get around to everyone and watch each one open their gift and see and hear their reaction. It was a very fun way to open gifts. Yes, this is antlers. This is the new thing you see == antlers on the windows of trucks. Instead of your college football team pennant waving, you see antlers on the truck!!

Oh, and my gift was this, a purse. I love it!!! Thank you Julie - she had my name.
Then, there were the Santa gifts and stocking to open. (of course Santa being mom and dad) These gifts everyone could open them all at the same time, because all gifts were just alike.Christmas evening with husbands parents and his siblings and their families. We went there in the after noon for just a short while to visit. It's always nice to see each other and catch up on each others news.

Then back to our house to eat Christmas supper. A short relaxation time. Then gather all the belongings and load up each vehicle for everyone to go back to their own home. Wait. Wait. Take this food care package I made for you!!

By 9 pm everyone is gone. What a wonderful day. I hate to see them leave. Snap out of it I tell myself -- get back in reality --- there is a kitchen and living room that needs my undivided attention to be cleaned up and put back in order!!!!

gin

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Merry Christmas


Wishing you a joyous Christmas.

The Spirit of Christmas is in the peace, joy and hope that it brings.

May it touch your heart and remain with you today and always.
May God Bless you and your family this Season.
For He is the Reason for the Season!
gin

Saturday, December 13, 2008

playing in the snow

Thursday was a snow day! In the south snow days are very few and very far between. Just husband and me at home to build a snowman.It was fun, but coooldddddd!! That's why my snowman is a so little. And he looks kind of cold too. If all the kids were here, we would have had a big big snowman. The snow was pretty for the short time it was here. But glad it's gone!!

gin

Sunday, December 7, 2008

At our house....

Decorations are going up and the Christmas tree lights are being plugged in.

My favorite ornament is a snowflake with with picture of the kids when they were little. The stockings are being hung, and the mantle and stair banister is beginning to twinkle. The mantle is set with 3 twinkling Christmas trees set on a blanket of lighted snow with a deer in the midst and candle lamps on each end. And my wire reindeer resting on the hearth.

The candles are lit with a glowing winter fragrance. My Santa plates are put in view with a candle lamp surrounded by 2 white milk glass reindeer. My table is set with a crystal bowl full of shiny red, green, blue, silver and gold glass ball ornaments. And I am using a table runner of green and gold with shiny glass beads on the end. This is one of the many table runners I made a few months ago.

The door wreath I made from live branches from the edge of the woods is being hung with a smile, while songs of Christmas can be heard in the background. I make a similar one every year. I have a round wire base, I wrap fresh branches around and attach with what ever I have at the time -- florist tape, string, twist ties, like I said whatever I have at the time. I will also cut some holly berry branches from the woods and attach them, and then dash a little glitter on the pine cones. It is hanging on the barn door right now until I finish.


The gifts will be wrapped. The menu planned. We'll ride around to see the lights. We'll be visiting family and friends. We'll attend Christmas plays and view the live Nativity Scene. Christmas Day will be here soon.


gin

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

In the "Dog House"

Poochie went to the poochie parlor last week. It's called the "Dog House". She got a true doggie groom. Her coat has been long soft and silky. I brush her several times a week. I really hated to see it cut, but now with all the autumn leaves that has fallen she brings oodles of leaves inside. Now she looks like this.
This is Poochie running thru the leaves.
She's all grown up now with a grown up hair cut. The family canines came to visit for Thanksgiving. This is the trio:
Macy --- Molly ----- Poochie
gin

About Me

My photo
. . . happy life, happy wife, mom and maw-maw, a heart for family fur babies, a sister to many, a daughter, and a child of the King. I love outdoors and doing a little sewing, crafting and making a house a home.

Things I Like

  • Family, home, friends
  • Romantic, vintage stuff
  • Big Mac
  • Sewing, quilting, digital scrapbooking
  • Louisiana

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