the topic for

this month's art group challenge is light.  Here are a few of my takes on light.  I have more ideas that I'll eventually get to.

This is a statue at church.

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This is the entrance to the Brazoria County Historical Museum.

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This is me lighting a candle.

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yesterday was a lazy

lazy day.  Did I mention lazy too?  I lounged around, napped and ate while an Ice Road Truckers marathon was on.  By the way, Bolivia is so much prettier in HD.  (I apologize for the next few photos.  I know I often use my phone's camera but the ones from yesterday were really not the best quality.)  While I was having a less productive day, I can say the same for Strat and Lucille.

Warning: cat pics to follow.  (What do you expect when they are my only "willing" subjects?)

I figure Strat was scoping out the presents to find an easy way under the tree.

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Then I figure he couldn't find a good route and gave up.

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Lucille was looking for affection, as usual.

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Approximately two minutes later she was dozing off.

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Approximately 50 seconds after that she was out.

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And that was how Sunday was around here.

you may recall

photo 286 and if you don't, scroll down and see the white Coke can for Christmas there.  Did you see it?  Good because it's gone.  Classic Coke has gone back to red.

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I'm pretty sure if the white can could talk, it would say, "Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night." Is that a little overdramatic for you?  Yeah, same here.

i wonder what

could possibly be in this box...

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I actually know what it is because I ordered it.  I emailed a link to Cosme a while back, letting him know which mixer I want for Christmas.  I wasn't feeling good on Saturday and was in bed.  I was replying to a text when Cosme came busting through the door telling me not to read that text.  Too late.  He let me know the link for my mixer was giving him problems and that text was to have Eric check at Target or Walmart for it.  I'm so glad I caught it.  I got on the computer and ordered exactly what I think I want.  Now I just hope I can leave it in the box until Christmas.  I'm sure Cosme won't mind if I open it though, he already suggested last night that I take it out of the box and make cupcakes.

the cats are

taking over.  I don't let the cats in our bedroom and Cosme didn't close the door all the way this morning. I walked in and Lucille was in there.  I was out of biscuits so I ran to Shipley to get Eric a kolache.  I came home and Strat was sitting on the end table.  I came over to my computer, where my camera sits 80% of the time and I noticed bite marks at the end of the strap.

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Maybe they aren't taking over but have actually already taken over.

i went to walmart

yesterday.  I was picking up some charcoal and saw this little kennel in the corner.  I guess Walmart has a pet cat.  I thought it was weird but kind of interesting.

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yesterday morning

I saw a preview of a report to come on the evening news.  This was a special on The Blood Type Diet and how each body reacts differently based on the blood type.  Not able to wait, I searched the diet online and saw my type A should avoid lots of meat, beans, dairy and soft drinks.  Oh, the humanity!  These are all of my favorite things!  Anyway, I saw a link to the news report online this morning so I clicked and watched.  First they talked about type O needing lots of protein and low carbs with lots of high energy exercise.  Meh... I could go for the high protein but I really love my carbs and I'm not big on the high energy exercise.  Next was type A.  They said to go easy on the meats but to have lots of fruits, vegetables and carbs.  Oh yeah, carbs.  Although they did say that dairy was not the best for type A, the last part makes it all better.  Type A's don't need the high energy exercise but something along the lines of yoga or golf.  I think I'll go eat a clementine or two and maybe go for a walk.

Just when I thought the Photo Booth fun was over, I did it myself.

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The effect is Chipmunk so I don't know what made me imitate a rabbit.

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and the stockings

were hung by the chimney with care...

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But I can't say that so much about the ribbon on the tree

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or the ribbon on the wreath.

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I definitely need to make some adjustments to the ribbon.  Actually, I think the tree's ribbon is off because I was messing with a few ornaments.  As for the ribbon on the wreath, I guess I just wasn't paying attention.

For the record, my two obsessions this holiday season are obviously baking and ribbon.  Also, if anyone needs a real wreath, Costco has them for $15.  That's cheap.

And another Photo Booth participant.  (I was not hurting him, only holding his head still.)

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it's like a bug

or something.  I can't quit baking.  Sunday was the banana bread.  Since Earl liked it, I took the extra loaf over there yesterday... along with a pan of cinnamon rolls I baked yesterday.

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Monday it was just a simple batch of cookies.  Today I'll probably start the dough for a coffee cake.  Right now I have coq au vin in the oven and it smells good in here.  It started with the bacon I had to fry up, then with the 1/2 cup of cognac I had to pour, then with the onions, carrots and garlic I had to cook for 10 minutes

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then I had to add the browned chicken, half a bottle of wine and thyme.  Like I said, it smells good in here.

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I don't know if the wine actually smells good or if I'm thinking of how it'd probably warm me up right now.

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I was doing some Christmas shopping online last night and Lucille wanted attention.  I picked her up and started playing with Photo Booth on my computer.  I was having a great time but she wasn't.

Mom said it best, psycho kitty.

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mean Dr. Seuss-like kitty

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time warp kitty

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it's beginning to

look a lot like Christmas, kind of.

A few presents are under the tree but one is actually part of Dad's birthday present while another has since been opened.

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Coke has their new white Christmas cans out but they're putting an end to them because too many people are complaining about the cans not being red and looking too much like Diet Coke cans.

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I've been in the baking mood but that isn't necessarily a Christmas thing.

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For the most part, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

Let's get back to the baking part.  I made banana bread for the first time yesterday.  My plan was to make it earlier than I did and make several small loaves.  As it turned out, I laid around on the couch most of the day but did end up with three medium sized loaves.  I'd wanted to keep one, send one home with Mom, take one to Cindy and Earl and find homes for the rest.  I baked three so that would have been perfect for the original distribution plan but Mom had already left.  I got one to Cindy and Earl last night and our loaf is almost gone.  (Sorry, Dad.)  Now I'm left with one loaf of bread and about to start the dough for cinnamon rolls.  I guess I'll just have to snack on the extra loaf while I wait.  One thing I noticed though, while I usually have to be in the mood to eat a banana, I can't say the same for banana bread.  I think it always sounds good.

the other day i

rode with Mom to Missouri City to meet up with a lady that was placing an order with her.  We needed wifi and after finding out Chick-fil-a didn't offer it, we headed to Starbucks.  I realized something that evening.  I don't like Starbucks.  It's so obnoxious in there.  With the people everywhere working on their computers, I figure they must not have coffee makers or an internet connection at home.  It wasn't comfortable.  It wasn't quiet.  One guy was sitting there playing cards with his kid.  I don't know, maybe didn't have a table and chairs at home.  I just wanted to hurry and leave.  I wanted to hurry and get on my computer at my own table.  I don't find it necessary to pull all my stuff out to be seen looking busy in a coffee shop.

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i volunteered to

make two desserts for a friend to pick up this morning.  Since I usually can't stay up late, I chose to do the baking this morning.  I woke up at 4:00 and didn't know how I was going to get moving.  I was so tired I even put Eric's glasses on.  It had to get done so I just got busy.  Two and a half hours later, they were finished, wrapped up and ready to go.

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This is where it gets good.  (No, I didn't break down and make one for myself... maybe later.)  At some point during that baking session, I woke up and had a burst of energy.  I washed clothes, washed my sheets, got the dishes washed and now I'm about to find something else to do.  I like mornings like this.

don't you just

love cold mornings when you don't have to leave the house and you pull hot cinnamon toast out from the broiler, which was also knocking the chill off the kitchen?  I do but a slice or two of bacon would be nice too.

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happy thanksgiving

I'm posting these postcards I scanned.  They were in my grandmother's husband's things and I held onto them for this reason.  I'm posting these two because they were both postmarked November 25, 1911.  I figured with them being 100 years old, that was a little neat and I'd put them both up.

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today i'm keeping

an eye on Strat.  I noticed he was squinting with one eye and he keeps licking his paw and rubbing his eye.  I'm thinking he might have something in it but I just don't know.  If he needs a vet, I hope it won't be tomorrow.

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Not only is he squinting but the eye's red and might be a little swollen.  Poor Strat.

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see what a new

heart gets you around here?

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My uncle had a heart transplant Sunday before last and my aunt has to keep his environment clean and germ free.  She wanted to get a cup that only he would drink from and would be labeled to make sure nobody else touched it.  It just so happened that I  had these tumblers in the cabinet that I bought a few months ago but were never used.  She asked if I could put his name on a couple.  So, in my best free-handed "American Typewriter" font, I went to town.  If the ink doesn't wash off we'll be in business.  If it does, maybe everyone will know by then who the green tumblers belong to.

my first side dish

for Thanksgiving has been prepped, is in the refrigerator and just needs to be heated for 15 minutes at 350 degrees on Thursday morning.

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As if the Central Park Praline I have melting in my Scentsy warmer wasn't enough, I had to go and make the broccoli and rice casserole this morning.  That bar smells just like having Thanksgiving dinner in the oven, particularly the sweet potato casserole.  I just topped it off with a little onion and celery sautéing in butter.  Yum.

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I also finished with the ornaments and ribbons on the tree.  I felt like it was missing something.

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I went to Hobby Lobby and bought more ornaments and poinsettias to stick in there.  I bought a bigger mesh ribbon but I haven't decided what I'll stick with as far as that goes.  I know for sure it needs a few more poinsettias, at least two.

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Who knows, by the end of the day I might swap out the ribbon and have a wreath hanging on the front door.

On a less successful note, I tried a new recipe over the weekend.

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It was unusual.  It was a breakfast muffin and the texture was very eggy.  I threw the recipe out.  Maybe they would have been better had I used the mini muffin tin and referred to them as anything but their original name... Cottage Cheese and Egg Breakfast Muffins with Ham and Cheese.  Everything went downhill from that point.  Well, I take that back.  After the first bite, Cosme said maybe he needed another bite to take it all in.  After the second bite he said it wasn't that bad.  After the third bite he said he didn't know and that it was unusual.

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Maybe I should have questioned the cottage cheese.  Maybe next time I'll stick with bacon and eggs.

it's the most

wonderful time of the year.  (You have to read that while humming the Andy Williams tune.)  Yes, it's the holidays and that's wonderful.  Thanksgiving is next week and I can't wait to snack on leftovers all day.  Christmas is right around the corner and I can't wait to open presents and visit with everyone.  All that's obvious but it's also time for something else.

CLEMENTINES.

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I didn't see any Cuties at Kroger yesterday but that's fine since my last two batches earlier this year were duds.  I picked up a crate yesterday and I was so excited, I choked on the first bite.  It's bad enough to choke but take my advice and don't choke on juicy citrus.  That burns a little.

I'm thinking about the whole photo-a-day thing.  Next up is 271 and there should be a total of 365.  Today is November 18th and I have just under 100 to do before December 31.  I better get busy.

today was one

of those mornings where I was hungry but nothing really sounded good.  I had a chat to attend on the computer at 8 so I started printing out recipes I'd pinned on Pinterest to kill time.  About 7:45 I realized I couldn't take looking at all the food pics any longer and decided to hurry and make a bowl of oatmeal.  I like cinnamon flavored but I was out of the flavored stuff and left with plain.  ugh.  Don't get me wrong, I've had plain oatmeal and once I added cinnamon and sugar, it was great.  Not today.  Today I couldn't get the flavor right.  It was bad.  On top of my cinnamon and Equal, I even added milk.  (Don't think that the Equal was the problem because I've had it before and it was fine.)  I remember when Grandma used to make oatmeal and Papaw could never understand how I could eat it without milk in it.  Not even the milk helped.  I can't wait for lunch.

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Dodo bought me my first set of pots and it came with a little kettle.  I first couldn't figure out why they'd include that with the set but offer something more practical instead.  For years it sat on the stove because it's a kettle and that's where it's supposed to be.  I never had any use for a kettle.  Why would I take the time to heat that thing when I could just pop a measuring cup of water in the microwave.  One day I decided to use the kettle and I realized how useful it actually is.  Now it sits on the stove because it usually has water in it and is really convenient.  Go figure.

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a house along my

Wednesday walking route obviously had a tree removed.  It was piled up at the street and I liked the designs on the stumps, as well as how the sunlight was hitting it.  Once again, thank goodness for the phone's camera.

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i'm so glad

the cool weather is finally here.

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today is

Wednesday so that means one thing.  I have a morning walk down to buy the newspaper.

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Strat was waiting for me at the door.

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This morning my music selection was a little more enjoyable because I've added a few more songs to my library.  Thanks to Dad's collection and the fact that I now have ours on my extra hard drive, I've got access to so much more.  I think most people would be surprised at the variety of music I enjoy.  I've got everything from Dean Martin to Rob Zombie, Neil Diamond to Texas Tornados.  Okay, so I might only have one Neil Diamond song, but it's there... along with one from Warren Zevon.  You get the idea.  I think I finally decided on something though.  Email questionnaires always seem to ask the one question, Beatles or Rolling Stones.  My answer was always that it depends on my mood.  Going by my music library, my mood is mostly Rolling Stones.  I know The Beatles never really had much available but John Lennon did and I have some of his stuff but I think my preference usually leans towards The Rolling Stones.  Their music might not be as complex or well written or whatever as The Beatles but it's good and it sounds like music to have a good time to.  (Well, a lot of it, anyway.)

I don't remember if I posted this or not and I don't really feel like going back and looking.  Ahh, I guess that's where the benefit of tagging posts comes in.  Oh well, I rarely tag anything.  Anyway, I went to a few showers back in August.  One shower had the most delicious raspberry tea.  I called my friend to see what brand it was so I could run out and buy some immediately.  It was Great Value from Walmart.  I never would have guessed.  It seems like I've been drinking a lot of it lately and I figured I would share... or re-share.

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Not only is it totally inexpensive, it's easy.  Just add water like you would to Kool Aid.  It can be made by the glass or the pitcher.  I think I'll pour another glass while I listen to my extensive music collection.