MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL...

As the years roll by.. the holiday takes on a new meaning to me. I am not a HUM BUG person, I just am not as JOLLY as I used to be. This year I am not baking my cookies and making fudge. So many cannot have the goodies any more or are making their own. I found that people could not have the treats and just did not want to tell me. Sooo I decided this year I would just stop doing it.  Sad I know, but better than wasting all the money and time and work doing all the baking etc. 

LIFE sure changed after leaving the old house and neighborhood and so I learned, I guess, to just adjust to another kind of lifestyle. In our apartment building we all exchange cards and that is about it. When I first moved here there was a Christmas party thrown on the second Saturday of December. The whole 24 apts were invited.
That stopped in 2015, people moved away who did the planning and paid for most of it. Even a potluck sort of thing was passed up. We don't have a community room for such a gathering here anyway, it is up to individuals to plan to use their own apts.

So life goes on, another holiday is almost past. I like shopping for bargains, but this year will wait til AFTER the holiday for the best deals. My best present to myself was
MY PILLOW... I got a great deal and got two and they are wonderful. I am hoping they help me sleep better. Well, hope wherever you are, you and yours have a wonderful 
MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

FIRST SNOW AND COLD WEATHER..2017

I make a habit of trying to take at least one photo of the first snowfall of any season. Don't really care how much just get the shot. WELL after getting up early the other day I got one. Some say it was heavy frost, but NO, we did have flurries. We have had such a weird fall with  late leaves turning. Makes me wonder how long the winter will last. It's too long as it is. Funny thing the city is picking up leaves and most of them are still on the trees. Guess it will be a very late pick up season for them.

Course the afternoon sun melted it all away and the trees began to lose their leaves. We had 18 degrees for two nights and it felt like January instead of November. This roller coaster of temps is crazy. Lots of folks coming down with colds and flu. 
I got the flu shot but still need to get a pneumonia one. Been putting that one off, but after last winter.. oh I am getting one.  Sis got one and they told her she might have to have a booster next year. WHAT?  I have never heard of getting a booster for a pneumonia shot. Most doctors say one shot lasts 4 or 5 years. WEIRD?

Been on a vacation from upstairs neighbors for about three weeks. It was great. New tenant moved in with a small little dog after the first though. Hardly know they are up there and that is just fine with me after the last 4 I have had above me. Maybe I will get to keep this guy for awhile. Most move out before their year lease is up. It gets very hot up there in the summertime. I hear  their AC running all the time. We get NO shade at all so the summer sun full blasts through the windows..very hot. 
                                             

Lily (niece's child) is now 6 months old. Such a cutie..she is not quite sitting up my herself but it will be very soon. Her brother likes to push her around the house with her sitting in a laundry basket. She loves it. Speaking of brother..He is now  in the cub scouts and won first place in a gutter regatta. You make a little boat and sail it down a gutter filled with water. First one to the end wins..  Good Job THEO..
                                   

           Well I am going to wrap this up for now.. Hope you all have a wonderful week and a 

                        

FALL HAS ARRIVED....

This year..very little color on the trees..We have been in a drought zone and so they are all yellow, brown and falling off the trees. Such a weird fall. Warm a few days then cool and then COLD..then back warm again.  Crazy. 
Wondering what the winter will be? Guess we will find out soon. I think our hot days are now over for the year.. bring on the winter. 

LILY MARIE is now 5 months old. She can roll over and is almost ready to sit up by herself. So cute to watch. I just love to watch babies grow at this age. How they discover the challenge of walking and talking, it is exciting. I have enjoyed my time seeing and helping her grow. 

Getting ready for fall and winter..heat was finally turned on here after a long wait from the tenants. Stink Bugs and boxelder bugs have invaded the place. Spraying and trying to keep them away, all part of fall around here. Nothing much phases them but SNOW..LOL .Been making over my closet , reorganizing and making room for all the summer stuff, and finding winter clothes etc. Baking more and eating dishes like casseroles means fall really has arrived.

                           ~~~HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A WONDERFUL FALL~~

AUGUST UPDATE

I can never remember an AUGUST like this one. In all my years living here in Michigan it was always hot and humid the whole entire month. Something you could count on. Sometimes even in September it would be like that. This year the whole month has been below in hot days and some down right cool ones. There has been little rain here so there is very low humidity. Some trees here have brown leaves and some are trying to turn color so early. Very confusing. Really makes me wonder what our winter will be like. 

HURRICANE HARVEY..
What to say?  I just see those reports and think of Katrina all over again. Hopefully our country has learned something from mistakes from the past and it will help in the recovery. Such a tragedy to see so many suffering. A nationwide telethon to raise money is being planned for SEPT 12 on all the major networks. Texas STRONG.. is a good word for it.. they are resilient and will rise up from all this. The nation is behind them all the way.

LOOK WHO IS 4 months old!!  She is not yet sitting up by herself but getting there.
                                   

LILY MARIE

BREAD...CAN WE TALK...?

IT'S SO HARD... . I quit bread.. something I love.. I mean L O V E...WHY?It's not a gluten thing I  just don't need those carbs..I quit sandwiches, I quit cornbread with butter, toast, hamburgers, subs,

GARLIC BREAD

OH MYYYyyy it's tough... I mean it. I try to not think about it.. I mean HOT biscuits with butter or honey or gravy.. ACKkkkkk   I heard Oprah say.. I LOVE BREAD.. well I feel her pain. Especially when you don't have it any more. You think maybe I will sneak just a roll or just a slice.. NOooo that leads to my weakness..can't do it. I do have a few slices of bread in the freezer in case someone comes and wants a sandwich but NOPE not eating it. It has helped me for sure to cut this out. 

I avoid places where I can smell it baking.. Subway and that fresh bread smell at the grocery bakery. It's like a real killer... BINGE.. nope I have been happy not to do that.. SO FAR 

They do say though, if you cut one thing out of your diet you will crave something else.. 

Wellllllllll...

Winter will come soon and then it will be 

COOKIES!!! 

OH NOOOOOO!!