Breakfast Bar

A few weeks ago we ordered counter stools for the breakfast bar area in our kitchen and we picked them up over the weekend just in time to entertain friends. Thank goodness we bought the Outback because I don't think that the beamer would have been too helpful in this case.

We really like the stools and think they look great in the kitchen. They are rather comfortable and now that we have them I fear the dining room table won't get as much use, which from the sounds of it, is pretty normal in most households. I've already envisioned making dinner and setting up table settings on the breakfast bar for weeknight meals. It will be fun!! Now, what to make?

Merry Christmas

Christmas Survey copied from my good friend Debi….my answers of course :-)

1) Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper but I need a training session to be a better wrapper

2) Real tree or Artificial? We have had an artificial tree for years since someone in the household doesn’t like picking up needles. Hopefully next year we can get a real one.

3) When do you put up the tree? Week after Thanksgiving.

4) When do you take the tree down? We like the ambiance of the Christmas lights so keep it up for a couple weeks after the New Year.

5) Do you like eggnog? Yes!! With nutmeg sprinkled on top.

6) Favorite gift received as a child? Cabbage Patch dolls, record player.

7) Hardest person to buy for? Mom or Jim

8) Easiest person to buy for? Chris

9) Do you have a nativity scene? No.

10) Do you send cards or email cards? Send cards via USPS.

11) Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Don’t remember…I am sure there were many or it came from a Yankee Swap.

12) Favorite Holiday Movie? Charlie Brown Christmas

13) When do you start shopping for Holidays? Typically around Thanksgiving, via the internet!

14) Ever recycled a Holiday present? Yup…but it wasn’t given to me by anyone in my immediate family.

15) Favorite thing to eat at Holiday? My sister’s Christmas cookies, mom’s twice baked potatoes and Aunt Connie’s fudge.

16) Lights on the tree? Yes, always white.

17) Favorite Holiday Song? Nat King Cole’s version of The Christmas Song.

18) Travel at Holidays or stay home? Christmas eve in Medford, MA; Christmas day in NH.

19) Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? I can but only when I sing the intro to Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer.

20) Angel on the tree top or a star? A gold angel.

21) Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning.

22) Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Crazy malls and traffic.

23) Favorite ornament? We have so many beautiful ornaments but I really love our first married Christmas ornament from last year and all of the fun ornaments we have gotten from the Tall Timber Lodge in Pittsburg, NH.

24) Favorite for Holiday dinner? Prime rib…yummy!!

25) What do you want for Christmas this year? Our house was our gift so all I want this year is to spend time with family and friends….and have a couple of days off from work!!

May you all have a happy and safe holiday season. Merry Christmas!!

Neighbors, Kids and Animal Tracks

Yesterday, The Gordon's, our neighbors to the right when looking out our front door, graciously opened up their home and hosted a holiday get-to-know-the-neighbors get together. It was the perfect Sunday for such an event since the weather gods were dropping more snow on us. If we had to drive over we may have reconsidered but the quick walk down the driveway with our contribution, Champagne, in tow was uneventful...meaning, I didn't fall on my butt!!

There are only 8 houses on our street which is good for me since it limits the number of names I have to remember (I am sooo bad at remembering peoples names). I think I have the adults down but the kids are another story. Luckily all of their names start with A except 2 so that helps. Anyway, it was nice to put faces to email addresses and get to know everyone a little bit. The kids were having a field day in the Gordon's well stocked play room or watching Cars while the adults hung out in the kitchen chatting and chowing on breads, quiches, bagels, ham, etc. Everyone seemed very nice and they were/are all willing to educate us on the develpment, neighborhood, Ashland, and anything else we need to know about. We had a nice toast in honor of the completion of the street and everyone, new neighbors excluded, is very happy that there will be no more blasting, jack hammering, or rock grinding disrupting their day to day any longer. Uggh....it must have been miserable!!

While we were all chatting, a few of the neighbors mentioned that they had deer or fox in their backyards occasionly. Even though I would like to avoid being exposed to any ticks, I would love to see some deer. The deer or fox must have known we were chatting about them because when Chris and I were walking up our driveway on the way home, we saw animal tracks all up the driveway leading to the backyard and up into the woods. Pretty neat. I am leaving the camera in the kitchen for any potential wildlife photo ops.

PS: I didn't take any pictures at The Gordon's in fear I may scare the neighbors off. Maybe the camera will appear once the Summer arrives and we have block parties.

Welcome Meaghan!!

I have to send out a congratulations to Jaime and Shawn for the birth of their beautiful and adorable (the cutest i've seen!!) daugther Meaghan. Meaghan was born on December 19th, 2008 checking in at 8lbs 4ozs 19in.

She is such a jem and one lucky little girl to have such great parents!! Congrats, good luck and enjoy Jaime and Shawn!!