Merry Christmas!

A Happy Christmas to one and all on this bitterly cold Christmas Eve. My wishes for each of you are simply these: may Santa bring you all you desire; may you have a white Christmas; may you be surrounded by those nearest and dearest; and may the spirit of Christmas be with you throughout the New Year!

We will be off to spend the evening with BJ's family in Downers Grove tonight. Pretty soon I'm going to have to start getting bundled. I can't believe how cold it is! This is more like February weather. :) If only we had snow . . . although, I don't envy the folks in Indiana and Ohio their woes. Anyway, I'm looking forward to stuffing myself on steak & potatoes. I mean, I've got to tide myself over until we go to my parents' roughly 12 hours later! Ha ha!

As a last comment today -- you know how most cameras have a date/time stamp? I wish mine had a temperature stamp. Our crazy dog loves this weather so much she sat in our backyard pleased as could be for nearly half an hour! Not a big deal, except it's like 4 degrees with a -20 wind chill--silly husky!

Illustration Friday - "Adoption"

Better late than never, I always say. If you read the last post, I've gotten into the whole creativity sharing community online. This is my contribution to this week's topic on Illustration Friday. My first contribution at that! I admit, I'm no artist--but I'm trying. :)

When I read this week's inspiration, I knew immediately my subject--me & my family! I am adopted -- and the only blonde in the family. Adoption has a special place in my heart and I wish all the best to E. Nolan and family!

Photo Friday - "Abandoned"

Here is my very first submission to Photo Friday. For those of you unfamiliar, it's a weekly photo challenge on the web and I've gotten into this whole creativity sharing online. Pretty fun. This week's theme was "Abandoned", and I immediately thought of this photo I took last Memorial Day at a picnic.

Christmas Wish Lists--Updated

Yeah, it's getting closer to Xmas. But, now that the Illinois family has completed their Xmas present lottery, I thought it appropriate to update and re-post this item. BJ and I have our lists posted as comments (click on "Comments" below this post). Anyone else is welcome to post their list--either family. After you click "Comments" there will be "Post A Comment" below our lists. Hit that and type your list! Just make sure to put your name on it, since you'll only be able to post as "Anonymous". Hope that clears up the confusion!

Nov. 12 -- It's come to my attention that the Missouri family has already completed the Xmas present lottery. Therefore, it looks like it's time to start the Wish List sharing. In previous years, we've done this through email. I thought, rather than coaching people through using their mail programs, we could try using this website.

Your mission--post a comment to this post with your (and your significant other's) wish list. Everyone will be able to see it, and no one will know how has whom. Genius! Oh, I am so smart!

PS--For those computer savvy in the family, I'm sure they'll use this as an opportunity to show off their html prowess (as in, including pictures, links, etc.).

Aah, Colin

I have a new crush--Colin Firth. He's just too much! Of course, I'm drawn to any man taller than 6 feet. Nevertheless, I've just had a Colin-fest over the past few days. Big reason I love cable. Bridget Jones on TBS, The Importance of Being Ernest all over the random HBO stations, and Londinium On-Demand. In fact, BJ came down during Londinium and says "What are you watching? You find the strangest movies!" When I replied, quiet matter-of-factly, that it was a Colin Firth movie he said "I see." Ha ha! I will say, tho, that I did not like the goatee in that particular film. I must get around to telling him . . .