What could they be?? Attack of the Buckets!

What is this strange phenomenom going on in New England? Buckets attaching them selves to trees? No...................... Trees sprouting buckets??? Nooo..................................................
It's MAPLE SYRUP time in New England!! Looks like with the cold nights and warmer days, buckets are sprouting themselves everywhere in the Sugar Maple trees around here. That is just something you don't see in the South! Had to stop the car and get some pictures of this, no one down south would ever believe me if I told them I saw buckets stuck to trees. So here's the proof! The sap starts to flow from the Sugar Maple trees and the buckets catch the stuff. There is a hollow spike driven into the tree that then acts like a spout to drain into the buckets. All this will be processed to make Maple Syrup. MMMmmm! Good! There is a very short time span apparently, 6 weeks that the sap runs, so ya gotta get the Sugar Maple sap quick!

Where the Maple Syrup is made and sold

The Hadley Sugar Shack where you can buy the BEST (straight from the Sugar Maple tree) syrup!!

Northampton

If you ever get the chance to get to Northampton Massachusetts you gotta go to Thorne's Market Place, inside is 30 shoppes, all kinds, funky, jewelry, a kitchen gadget store (which Cher just loves!) and little boutiques with just about everything in there. Cher and I had a nice lunch of roast beef sandwich, turkey sandwich and homemade soups!
After the Flower exhibit, we decided to walk into Northampton to see the sights and to see what was happening. This is one of the beautiful churches that are in the center of Northampton.

Spring will be coming to New England

Today Cher and I decided to get out of the house a little bit and do something different..
We went over to Smith College to see the flower and bulb exhibit........everything was beautiful! as you can see by all the pretty flowers and plants. This is a sure sign that Spring is on it's way. These are all in hothouses to force the bulbs and flowers to bloom. Aren't they pretty??

Cher trying to get some work done

As you can see my friend Cher is trying to get some work done on the computer, but little Ms. Cleo wants her Mommy's attention, so she is sitting on top of the mouse where Cher can't get to it! Isn't she something :) 

Cher and

 

Felix the Cat

Here is my baby boy.......see that glow in his right eye? He has a small kitty cataract!! I hope it doesn't get worse or later in his kitty life he will have to get kitty cataract surgery! My poor Boy! 

ZZZZZ...zzzzz

What could she be dreaming about??? 

Cleo sleeping....shhhh...

My little girl sleeping away in the bathroom window, with not a care in the world. 

Right after the Engagement

This is the first official picture taken of the most adorable couple in the world after their engagement. They are so cute!!

It's OFFICIAL!!

The most adorable couple in the world are now engaged!! My son Joey gave his love Erin the most BEAUTFUL! engagement ring on January 1, 2006. What a way to start out the New Year!

He really planned this for months on how exactly to "ask the question". Of course he spoke with her Father first and got Dad's ok. Joey was so cute, he told me that he was nervous talking with Erin's Father.

They both had a whirl wind holiday, first Joey coming to see me on Dec. 23rd, then Erin flew up from Virginia on Dec. 27th. On the 28th we all went to R.I. to visit my mother (Joey's grandmother) and my grandmother (Joey's great-grandmother). We all had a great time.
Next day, Joey and Erin went to Boston for the day, and then the next day they left for 2 days in NYC, seeing the Broadway musical "Wicked" and a day of touring NYC.

They left NYC January 1, 2006 and they were both so tired and excited after their fun filled Christmas vacation............little did Erin know, the excitement was not over yet! They landed in Greensboro, NC and drove to Roanoke, VA. where Erin lives. I think she thought "whew I am finally home and can relax" Ha! what she didn't know...........:)

The PROPOSAL! the Family and Friends! all there to surprise her and share in the celebration of the engagement. Joey had it all planned with Erin's best friend Betsy, who Erin lives with. Joey had some of Erin's college friends fly in from other states, and some drove from other states.........all to share this with her. I am so HAPPY! for them! Joey and Erin called me later that evening and I got to congratulate them. Now I am just waiting to get a good picture of the "rock" on Erin's hand, and to find out the plans for the wedding. Looks like I will be going back to Virginia soon!!!!

NYC bound

Well the kids- Erin and Joey are off to NYC for the next couple of days.....:( I miss them already!! But I know they will have a great time.

Yesterday morning before leaving for Boston, they went to Northampton (where Erin's Mom's family is from) and had a nice visit with Erin's Uncle Russell (in the picture).

They had a blast in Boston yesterday, got home around midnight and then up at 8AM and off again to NYC.

It was so much fun having them here and the time just went by to fast!!
I cooked them a hot breakfast of sausage, ham, eggs and toast, with orange juice to get them going for the drive to NYC.

I am expecting to hear from them sometime today once they get to NYC.......so til then..
I will post more later.

Random pictures of the Lobster Feast!!

As you can see Erin is not to thrilled with Mr. Lobster!

But by the look in Joey's eyes, he is just about ready to feast!!

It's been Great!!

Erin has arrived and we are all having a blast! Yesterday (Wednesday) we all went to Rhode Island (Joey, Erin, Cher and I) to visit with my Mother and Grandmother Nanny. They were very happy to see us and we exchanged Christmas gifts with them.

After leaving RI, we then took the "kids" (Erin and Joey) out for a lobster dinner, Erin never having had lobster before. She was so funny, she was a little afraid of the lobster because it still had its eyes. We helped her through cracking the thing, and showing her all the good parts to eat. She was a riot!! The faces she made, and like I, she had to clean off the Lobster "poo" before eating it. She wasn't so sure about the whole process as you can see in the picture, but she learned and did like the taste of it (I think). After that we went to a wonderful bakery in Northampton to get some delightful desserts.......which I think Erin liked alot more! No eyes!

Finally around 11:30PM Erin recieved her lost luggage......that she has been waiting for since she arrived here on Tuesday. Backing up, before that we made a mad dash to North Hatfield to the FedEx pick up place to pick up a new cell phone that Joey had ordered and we have all been waiting on that to for the last few days. Got there just in time before the place closed.

So yesterday was a fun filled eventful day. The "kids" are off to Boston today, Joey wants to take Erin to the Boston Aquarium, show her some of the sights, topped off with a seafood dinner (bet cha she won't be ordering Lobster!) at one of the resturants near the Harbor.

Tomorrow they take off for New York City...........but that's another blog.
Til then...................!

Christmas Day

Christmas Day is here! As you can see in the picture Cleo and Felix are enjoying their Christmas present! Spoiled eh? Naw..........not much!!

The plans for today are to exchange gifts this morning with my son Joey and my best friend Cher. I have a Broccoli Salad to make this morning .......a recipe given to me by Ms. Lucy Paulette from Blacksburg Virginia, a fine southern lady. Today we will be going over to Cher's parents house to share Christmas day and partake of the Christmas feast! Cher's 3 neices will be there, along with both her brothers, who at some point will show up........what I mean by that is that they are both Firemen and have to work some today. But they will join the family when they get off of work.

I will be taking pictures and posting them so all can see how we have enjoyed our Christmas Day.

I spoke with Ms. Erin last night............my son Joey's true love! she is the sweetest young lady!(You have seen her picture in past posts........(she is the one that is half of the Most Adorable Couple!) She is excited about coming up North, she has never been up here, so it will be fun for her and fun for Joey to show her around Boston and NYC, where they will be staying with friends and sharing the coming in of the New Year together.

I plan to serve her my son's favorite dish........Mom's homemade Tuna Casserole, and on another evening.........Lobster! I hear she has never had it before, so she is in for a treat!! Here in the New England states Lobster is a common delight. They are caught live off the Maine and Massachusetts coast here, kind of like where I moved from..........the Chesapeake Bay area where it is known for the Chesapeake Bay Blue Crabs ( I sure miss fresh crab!).

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Wonderful news

The first wonderful news is that Mr. Wagner came home from the Nursing Home, so now he will be able to spend Christmas with his family, friends and loved ones. He is doing better, slow, but on the mend and that is a Wonderful thing! We are all so glad he is back home and can't wait to celebrate Christmas with him.

The other wonderful news is the picture you see of the Cutest Couple in the World! (being a Mom here).........love them! Aren't they adorable?? :)

Joey my son in the picture is coming tomorrow night!! I can't wait to see him!! And Erin, the cutest girl in the world you see in the picture, Joey's love :) will be coming here on Tues!! I can't wait to see her again!! I met her when I went down to Virginia this past October.....she is a wonderful young lady and I am so happy to have her in my son's life and mine.

Today is the company Christmas party, it should be fun, with lots of good eats, presents and laughter.......a good time to be had by all. I am also giving out my handmade Christmas cards to some of my coworkers, and a few gifts. I can't wait! I love to give and let others know how much they mean to me and how much I care about them. I wish I could do more, but I just don't get paid enough!! :)


The Christmas stockings are hung and waiting for Santa to fill them with lots of surprises and treats. Even the kittys Felix and Cleo have their own stocking. Last month I bought them a flowing water fountain, so they will have fresh water......it flows constantly, that is "air filtered" for that "fresh taste" and better for their tummys.........no stagnet water for my kittys! They deserve the best! Better for their kidney functions too.


Well work calls.....so I have to end this for now.

Happy Holidays, Seasons Greetings and MERRY CHRISTMAS!! (hope everyone will get this and know...........CHRISTmas is our saviors birthday.......and no "group" or non believers can take that away! YaY!

Christmas Tree 2005

The Christmas tree is decorated and now awaiting the arrival of my oldest son Joey and his girlfriend Erin!! I am so excited! Joey will arrive at Bradley Airport in Hartford CT. on Friday evening followed by the arrival of Erin on Tues. Dec. 27th! Can't wait to have them both here for the holiday! All the presents are wrapped (mine are anyway.........Cher has yet to start :), but that is her, last minute Kate....she usually waits til Christmas morning to wrap before going over to her parents for Christmas to spend the day with all her family. Last year I helped her wrap ahead of time, and I plan on doing it this year too! I love to wrap, so it will be fun!

The snow is still on the ground and will stay here til April I am sure......more predicted on Christmas Day, don't know how much yet but we will see. If we do, it will be pretty, as the snow that is on the ground now, has gotten all dirty from cars and people. It is so pretty when it has freshly fallen.
Tomorrow is my works company Christmas party...........of course I think now to be politically correct we have to call it a Holiday Party........long story but there has been alot of.........should I say "discussion" on Christmas this year.......what to call it as not to offend anyone. It is still CHRISTMAS, Christ's birthday and know one can take that away no matter what!! You can't take the CHRIST out of CHRISTmas.....and that is just all there is to it!!

Anyway, back to the party.............the company has the food catered.....which is nice.......usually with all other events everyone has to bring a covered dish. It will be nice to have someone else make it. Also we do what they call here a Yankee Swap, now that is fun.......we all exchange gifts by picking out a number...when your number is called you have to pick out a gift that is located all in a pile in the center of the room. It's fun and we get some good laughs out the of the reactions of others.........seeing what they have chosen. Some great gifts!!

As you know I made my own Christmas cards this year, well they are all done and ready to be given to my co-workers with a little "surprise" inside.....and something on the outside too........don't want to say right now just what it is, cuz some of my coworkers read this blog and I don't want to give anything away.

Well that is about it right now......

Update on Cher's terrible cold........she took Zicam and it is something! She is so much better now after 4 days........I recommend it to anyone! It shortens the length of the cold and the severity. It is wonderful!!

Will write again soon................til then............MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! (got that everyone! )

Making Christmas Cards

So I decided this year to make my own Christmas Cards. I enjoy trying to be creative and the fun in making them. I looked on the internet for "Christmas Quotes" to write in the cards from famous to not so famous people. These are just some samples of what I am creating.

Needless to say I am still sick, so I did not go to RI to see my Mom and Grandmother today. I do have to go to work tomorrow though, no matter how I feel. Right now we are just to busy to take any time off.

Cher's father isn't doing so well. He was in the nursing home for rehab but has had a setback. Cher went to see him today (I can't go, I don't want to give him my germs) and his Blood Pressure is up, he has a temperature, and his urine is not good. So they are sending him back to the hospital. Please everyone pray for Mr. Wagner and all the Wagner family. He has been through so much, as all the family has. I just want him to get better so he can go home and be with the ones that he loves and loves him. He would rather be home in his easy chair and being with Mrs. Wagner. They are just the greatest people and parents anyone could ever want. Pray that all will go well with them.

Called my youngest son Allen today, he says he is doing well, I do pray for him too. He sounds like he is getting more of a "grasp" on things at times, but with him it is one day at a time. I try and call him every day to let him know I love him, and am thinking of him and to find out how he is doing.

I still have some Christmas shopping to do.......mostly I do it on the internet....it is great! Just order and it comes right to your door! The way they have bargains now, and free shipping, it really is worth it, you don't have the hassle of traffic, finding a parking space, crowded stores and lines. I hate shopping so internet shopping is the way for me! I owe it all to my oldest son Joey, he introduced me to the home PC when he went away to college some years ago and has taught me so much about it. Thanks Joey! Your Mom is gettting more computer "savy" every day!

Last night Cher and I went to the First Annual Redneck Christmas dinner right here in Easthampton. Yes, I know I shouldn't have gone being sick and all, but we had gotten the tickets and I just couldn't turn down a Redneck Christmas Dinner! They had all the fixin's (but unfortunately here in the north they still have a thing to learn about "southern" cookin).....there was no Collard Greens or Hush Puppies!! Oh my! They substituted cole slaw, and they did have corn bread ...not to brag but my corn bread is alot better! We had some raffle drawings in which I won a Santa Magnet for the refridgerator and a case of Pabst Blue Ribbon beer! Yee Haw! Yuck! I don't like beer anyway, so I gave it to one of my friends sons (yes he is of drinking age). They had a great band, which is a local band from around here where the guys started playing together in High School and they are all around my age, so it has been a long time playin! The money that was collected for the dinner went to Habitat For Humanity for the victims of the Hurricane's down south this summer.

So that is the happenin's around here in Easthampton MA for the weekend.

Til next time...............:)

Snow!

Yes it has snowed again here, about 6 to 12 inches on Friday. Today it is sunny and nice and the snow looks so pretty! Luckily the Dept. of Public Works gets the trucks out pronto to remove the snow from the roads.

I am sick with some kind of virus, went to the doctors yesterday but there is nothing they can give me to make me feel better since it is a virus. So I will just have to get through it with Tylenol and rest! I was suppose to go to RI today to visit with my Mom and Grandmother, but maybe I will make it tomorrow, depends on how I feel.

I'll be taking more pictures of the pretty snow when I get outside more.

Until then, have a great weekend!

Christmas Kittys

Christmas is coming and my kittys are getting into the holiday spirit too.
Of course they have to check everything out, including the decorations.
Luckily they now have "fake" pointsettia's that look real. You can't have real ones with cats. They are poisonous!!

As you can see Felix (black and white) has to check it out.

And Ms. Cleo thinks she is the princess among the Christmas flowers!