Gizzy's Christmas

Before I show you my crocheted work, I'd like to share some cute photos of my boy beneath the Christmas tree next to his (and Middi's) gifts.

So proud to have received a present from Santa in the mail.

 Now, mommy, now can I open them?

Mmmmmm...yummy, beef stick, my favorite!

That was delish! Can I have another?

Middi is happy with her new catnip snail toy!

Hello my lovelies and dearies and sweeties ;-)

Yeah, the old lady's still here (me) and the boy's still kicking too as is Middi and Boots. Where to begin. I'm at the library and that's why Gizzy's not featured on my header. I had some nice photos downloaded on my memory stick, but using it at the library is tricky and I never did figure it out...so, this blog will be plain till I can get Internet at home again (soon, I hope!)....Thus far I crocheted 8 doll dresses, one lovelier than the other, two of which are exclusively for Valentine's Day in pink and pinker and pinkest with white and fluffy borders and little roses...I want to show them to you, but I'll have to do some more experimenting here. I don't go here much because we only get an hour and often the computers are all busy.

Thanks so much for all your sweet Happy New Year's wishes! It was quiet initially, but lately I have been going to the doctor's alot (not by choice) but I'm going to have preop work done on the 4th and a DNC on the 10th ... I know it's not a big deal, but I hate having anything done to me, but at my age, things are bound to go sideways. At least the biopsy revealed no cancer - thankfully it does not run in my family, but it can happen to anyone. Unless they find something in my bloodwork or during the "procedure" I will hope that's enough with the doctor's visits for a while. The more hospital bills I get, the more I have to do without - including the internet.

I will work on figuring out how to download the dollies for you. Four of them are mine and the others I'll try to sell. I gave one to an old neighbor who enjoyed it tremendously and another one to another neighbor. She gave me her dolly and I crocheted a dress for her that she showed to everyone.

I closed my Etsy shop for now, but will try to go to this one swap meet in another town this weekend. It's $10 per spot and it's indoors and it includes a 6' table, so that's reasonable. I've never been there and I was told that it's mostly fresh produce (I will probably end up buying some) but there are a few other things there too. I'm hoping with Valentine's Day approaching, I might get a couple of sales, especially since the dollies are pretty in their fancy dresses. They are not toys and definitely not for small children, merely for decoration for the bed, etc. I will advertise them as such, but once I sell them, I guess it's out of my hands.

ONE MORE THING before I leave: I got such a nice surprise from one of you nice ladies - someone who lives in Texas ;-) It's a Valentine's card from Gizzy to me! It's the cutest card (the only one I'll probably get) and it's from Middi and Boots too.

I'm still looking for a home for Boots. The cats situation is really getting out of hand over here and the Animal Control does not pick up strays. Boots started to defend his territorry, but he can't keep up. The other young community cats are spoiled from being fed and never had to fight for anything. So, Bootsie, being the old timer of 12 took it upon himself in trying to keep the intruders away - he used to have patches of hair missing and one time his eye was oozing - I really got scared for him, especially since I don't have the money to take him to the Vet, even if I could capture him. So, now he resigned himelf to hanging out mainly on my front porch. At night when it gets cold I fix him a warm place to sleep with a couple of pillows, after all he's getting up there too (12 years or older.) I wish I could keep him, but I'm only allowed 2 pets and Gizzy hates cats...even though he's surrounded by them.

So, we have new cats moving in on us, young males who are agressive fighters who spray everyhing with that awful smell of unneutered males. They stunk up my brand new $50 car cover and that irritates me. I wish we had garages. I wish I could afford to get them all neutered and spayed. The frustrating thing is that the majority of people here don't take care of their pets. The bigger majority does not spay or neuter their animals. A lot of people use the dogs for "breeding" trying to make some money and forget about cats....cats are very unpopular where I live. I know that some people care, but unfortunatly not enough of them do. Also, we have a leash law in this town, but the people who live behind our apartments have two or three big hunting dogs that roam around free all the time. Apparently they sniffed out the cats' feeding stations and now we have big dogs running around at night, looking for catfood and scraps and leaving us big c..ps (HELP)...I need to move away from here!

Gizzy sleeps a lot. He's 12 and his hearing has diminished somewhat so that I have to speak with him more loudly now, but he still has spunk and enjoys his outside time and tug-o-wars with his Miss Piggy (and me.)We both love the cool weather and our walks in the crisp, fresh air. I breathe so much better in the cold air. We've had a few warmer days recently where I was opening up the house so that Middi can have some fresh air too. She misses me leaving the windows open all night long like I do in the summer.

I have to go now. God bless you all and thanks for being so sweet. I will try to come back soon with some photos!

Love and best wishes to you all!

(p.s. I can't find the spell check on here....the one thing I thought was spell check (ABC) is the strike through, so please excuse my spelling errors.)

Happy New Year!

I've not been at the library as much as I had hoped...they have been busy and the computers are alsways occupied and I can't stand waiting because I always have the Gizz in the car with me so that we can stop at the park on the way home.

Had errands to run and took a chance and was so surprised and happy to see all your comments. I appreciate your thinking of me and I miss you too. I can't wait to get back online. I hope you all had a very nice Christmas too.

I just wanted to wish you all a very happy and healthy New Year! I can't believe it's 2010 already, can you? First we partied like it was 1999 and now I'm wondering if in the year 2525 man will really be still alive?

Anyway, I've been getting a lot of crocheting done. I can't wait to show you all my dollies. I decided that this year all my dollies are getting new dresses. I crocheted four already and am pressing on...

Thanks to everyone for your kindness and God bless you - till we meet again - SOON, I hope!

I miss you guys!

I'm still typing from the library - whenever I can get to a computer, but hopefully next year (month) I'll be able to get a good deal to resume my internet service because I can't handle dial up. I would rather come here a few times a week.

I just want you to know that I read all your nice comments and I want to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a blessed holiday season - no matter how you celebrate it ... as long as you're being good to yourself and to each other. Life's fragile, so let's treasure it and enjoy it while we can.

I miss you and love you all....

Doris, Gizzy and Middi

you can also reach me at my e-mail here:

Honey Bee Crochet

The garland for my white tree is...

cut up coffee filters and Jacqie wins ... problem is I'm at the library with 7 minutes left to go...the computers have been very busy - schools out - and I'm not sure when I can check my e-mails again, but leave me an e-mail with your address and I will mail them to you as soon as I can come back here again.

Merry Christmas everyon!

My Christmas Tree and a Quiz Giveaway

I finally finished decorating my tree. This year I chose the white, silver and sparkly theme. I rotate every year. Next year it'll be the rich and warm gold and red colors again.

I have a small apartment and this tree is just the right size (about 6') and shape. I got it used from a friend who purchased a new one and I have been using it for the past five years. It's starting to show wear, but nothing that decorations can't hide. I prefer a real one, but they are too cumbersome for me to handle by myself.

Most of my white ornies are the ones I crocheted - including the dilapidated angel, but I expect my angel to look worn and well used since I've had kind of a busy and often rough life. I'm sure I put him through a lot. The main thing is that it still works and that's what counts. Does anyone remember that movie "Michael" with John Travolta? That's sort of what I expect my angel to look like...but I'm almost positive I have more than one anyway, so I'm covered.

After looking at my tree, tell me what the *Garland is made from and I'll send you two of my sparkling snowflakes for your tree...
*GARLAND - the stuff that is more or less draped horizontally over the tree branches, not the ornies hanging down and it is NOT crocheted. Please, be specific! Not just what material it is, but what was it made from, like what was it before it became garland...HINT: It is recycled or repurposed! Don't give up, if nobody guesses it by Tuesday, I will select three people with the most closest guesses and send them each two of my crocheted snowflake ornaments, so happy guessing!

Merry Christmas, my friends. I love you all as if we knew each other in person! You are all very special and very real to me. I wish you peace and hope and love now and always!

For those of you with decent Internet connection, you can enjoy this old classic for free on Hulu:

A Charlie Brown Christmas

Really Hot Chili

This is sort of an off-the wall post, but as some of you know, my blogging will slow down significantly as of Monday (12/14/09) because I'm holding out for a better deal on my DSL Internet connection. So, before I slow down my regular posting, I wanted to leave you with a funny story I received in an e-mail a long time ago. I thought it was so hilariously funny that I saved it for sharing with my friends to give them a good laugh. Now, it's not for the oh-so-proper and faint at heart, so if you get easily offended, don't read it - and don't ruin your image of me for liking such a bold and silly story.

I think that with the often stressful and hectic schedules during the holidays, everyone could use a good belly laugh. I sincerely hope this will do the trick. I laugh so hard every time I read it. Here we go:

Texas Chili Cook Off

If you can read this whole story without laughing, then there's no hope for you. I was laughing SO hard that I was crying by the end. This is an actual account as relayed to paramedics at a chili cook-off in Texas . (Jack’s son Rick, an actual Judge, sent this to us!)


Note: Please take time to read this slowly. If you pay attention to the first two judges, the reaction of the third judge is even better. For those of you who have lived in Texas, you know how true this is. They actually have a Chili Cook-off about the time Halloween comes around. It takes up a major portion of a parking lot at the San Antonio City Park .


Judge #3 was an inexperienced Chili taster named Frank, who was visiting from Springfield , IL .


Frank: "Recently, I was honored to be selected as a judge at a chili cook-off. The original person called in sick at the last moment and I happened to be standing there at the judge's table, asking for directions to the Coors Light truck, when the call came in. I was assured by the other two judges (Native Texans) that the chili wouldn't be all that spicy; and, besides, they told me I could have free beer during the tasting, so I accepted and became Judge 3."


Here are the scorecard notes from the event:


CHILI # 1 - MIKE'S MANIAC MONSTER CHILI


Judge # 1 -- A little too heavy on the tomato. Amusing kick.


Judge # 2 -- Nice, smooth tomato flavor. Very mild.


Judge # 3 (Frank) -- Holy crap, what the hell is this stuff? You could remove dried paint from your driveway. Took me two beers to put the Flames out. I hope that's the worst one. These Texans are crazy.


CHILI # 2 - AUSTIN 'S AFTERBURNER CHILI


Judge # 1 -- Smoky, with a hint of pork. Slight jalapeno tang.


Judge # 2 -- Exciting BBQ flavor, needs more peppers to be taken seriously.


Judge # 3 -- Keep this out of the reach of children. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to taste besides pain. I had to wave off two people who wanted to give me the Heimlich maneuver. They had to rush in more beer when they saw the look on my face.


CHILI # 3 - FRED'S FAMOUS BURN DOWN THE BARN CHILI


Judge # 1 -- Excellent firehouse chili. Great kick.


Judge # 2 -- A bit salty, good use of peppers.


Judge # 3 -- Call the EPA. I've located a uranium spill. My nose feels like I have been snorting Drano. Everyone knows the routine by now. Get me more beer before I ignite. Barmaid pounded me on the back, now my backbone is in the front part of my chest. I'm getting shit-faced from all of the beer.


CHILI # 4 - BUBBA'S BLACK MAGIC


Judge # 1 -- Black bean chili with almost no spice. Disappointing.


Judge # 2 -- Hint of lime in the black beans. Good side dish for fish or other mild foods, not much of a chili.


Judge # 3 -- I felt something scraping across my tongue, but was unable to taste it. Is it possible to burn out taste buds? Sally, the beer maid, was standing behind me with fresh refills. This 300 lb. woman is starting to look HOT... just like this nuclear waste I'm eating! Is chili an aphrodisiac?


CHILI # 5 - LISA'S LEGAL LIP REMOVER


Judge # 1 -- Meaty, strong chili. Cayenne peppers freshly ground, adding considerable kick. Very impressive.


Judge # 2 -- Chili using shredded beef, could use more tomato. Must admit the cayenne peppers make a strong statement.


Judge # 3 -- My ears are ringing, sweat is pouring off my forehead and I can no longer focus my eyes. I farted, and four people behind me needed paramedics. The contestant seemed offended when I told her that her chili had given me brain damage. Sally saved my tongue from bleeding by pouring beer directly on it from the pitcher. I wonder if I'm burning my lips off. It really ticks me off that the other judges asked me to stop screaming. Screw them.


CHILI # 6 - VERA'S VERY VEGETARIAN VARIETY


Judge # 1 -- Thin yet bold vegetarian variety chili. Good balance of spices and peppers.


Judge # 2 -- The best yet. Aggressive use of peppers, onions, garlic. Superb.


Judge # 3 -- My intestines are now a straight pipe filled with gaseous, sulfuric flames. I crapped on myself when I farted, and I'm worried it will eat through the chair. No one seems inclined to stand behind me except that Sally. Can't feel my lips anymore. I need to wipe my butt with a snow cone.


CHILI # 7 - SUSAN'S SCREAMING SENSATION CHILI


Judge # 1 -- A mediocre chili with too much reliance on canned peppers.


Judge # 2 -- Ho hum, tastes as if the chef literally threw in a can of chili peppers at the last moment. I should take note that I am worried about Judge # 3. He appears to be in a bit of distress as he is cursing uncontrollably.


Judge # 3 -- You could put a grenade in my mouth, pull the pin, and I wouldn't feel a thing. I've lost sight in one eye, and the world sounds like it is made of rushing water. My shirt is covered with chili, which slid unnoticed out of my mouth. My pants are full of lava to match my shirt. At least during the autopsy, they'll know what killed me. I've decided to stop breathing its too painful. Screw it; I'm not getting any oxygen anyway. If I need air, I'll just suck it in through the 4-inch hole in my stomach.


CHILI # 8 - BIG TOM'S TOENAIL CURLING CHILI


Judge # 1 -- The perfect ending, this is a nice blend chili. Not too bold but spicy enough to declare its existence.


Judge # 2 -- This final entry is a good, balanced chili. Neither mild nor hot. Sorry to see that most of it was lost when Judge #3 farted, passed out, fell over and pulled the chili pot down on top of himself. Not sure if he's going to make it. Poor feller, wonder how he'd have reacted to really hot chili?


Judge # 3 - No Report



To your health!