A Merry Christmas to ALL from The KardKorner!

Greeting Cards are one of my passions...making my own cards gives me the opportunity to express how I REALLY feel!  I want the recipient to know that I made that card especially for him or her.   I had a hard time this year designing the front of my card.  I had to keep changing colors and pictures on the front and I was blaming the card stock for the final results.  Finally came up with this.  I played with the background color-didn't want it too dark.  I drew the striped border design on myself to give it a bit of a modern flare.  And then added the pictures of the "old tyme" Christmas lites.  I'm a bit of an ecclectic-type.  "A pleasant mix of old and new!"  

  

   

Here is the inside of my card.  Is the print large enough for you to read?  I used a quote from Norman Vincent Peal and then composed the sentiment myself-so I could say what I wanted to say!  How about that little basket in the bottom corner?

And finally, the back of the card.  Adding some fun n'est-ce pas?  "A little bit of Christmas Spirit from our house to yours!"  And I mean it!

I made a different card for my sister Leta, using the picture of the little girl on the Birthday card that is featured on my sidebar that she sent me in 2007.  I knew that card would come in handy some day.  On the front I said "I thought I'd get my hair done for Christmas-What do you think?"  Inside it shows a hairdryer, scissors, comb and some beauty aids.  And a woman with a Christmas wreath over her head.  Of course, she's holding a cocktail!  Anyway, it just goes to show how you can improvise and recycle something and make it your own!  Ho! Ho! Ho!

***

 Here is our "too tall" tree that I just HAD to have a few years ago.  It's not really a bad tree-just hard to get the lights in it.  But it does dress up good.  At least you can use larger ornaments without bending branches!

This photo gives way to a birdhouse with cardinals standing by, and, OH! there's a 1956 T-Bird, 1957 Chevy convertible, and higher up we have a 1958 or '59 "little red vette"!  My mom started sending my son some of Hallmark's classic car ornaments in the early 1990's and we enjoy them every year.

And here, there is another of three birdhouses I have on this tree under the protection of two dove.  I like the birdhouses and birds.  To me it lends a natural look-sort of safe.  You can see the round red light-those are really neat, almost like the old days!  And the small angel closer to the top on the left is actually a package decoration.  I moved to Texas in October of 1971 and in December that year,  my mom sent me a sweater for Christmas.  It was gift wrapped and this angel was tied to the bow on the package.  It's kind of dingy now, sort of a thin plastic with gold-foiled cardboard wings.  But I kept the angel and every year it's placed near the top of my Christmas tree.  Am I a hoarder, or what?  Mom, I bet you didn't know I kept that angel!

***

We have our Grandson Shawn, aka Scooter, Shawnsky, Scootie and Son for a few days this week.  I think we have to give him up on Christmas Eve, so we'll do his Christmas early in order to give him some quality time with a few new toys.  We've already had so much fun with him, although he weighs a ton and breaks our backs.  I'm placing some pics of  him on my sidebar.  You'll notice he's wearing shorts in DECEMBER! It was somewhere in the 80's in Fort Worth on Monday.  Don't get much down time when you have a 2 year old in the house.  That's why I'm up a little late tonite trying to catch up.  Good thing I don't have to work tomorrow.  Shawn is starting to sing now-I caught him crooning to Elvis' "Blue Christmas".  I just stopped dead in my tracks-a man after my heart!

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And, by the way, I've put a new survey on my sidebar-no kidding!  Just a quickie to see if you can visualize "in your mind's eye" which of the listed Christmas songs might be my favorite.  I don't remember how long the poll is open.  I'll have to look it up and get back to you, so you better hurry and VOTE!

***

Thank you so much for tuning in.  I would like to retire this post with the sentiment I wrote in my Christmas card.  One request dear readers-However you celebrate, please do it safely.  I'm glad to be able to say

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

~

To all the Christmases far and near,

To all the People we hold Dear.

To all those things we're Thankful for,

To Rejoice and Sing Forever More.

~SmP

"Joyeux Noel"

Christmas Across the Ocean * The Star of India*

Last year, this was the largest star ornament located at Cochin in Kerala, India.  The star was noted in the Guiness Book of Records in December of 2009.  It is 103 feet, 8" long, and weighs in at 9,259 lbs.

Another state in India that brings on the real spirit of Christmas with their elaborate displays of stars is Goa.  Goa was one of 3 Portugese provinces in India-for 451 years.  India invaded these territories in 1961 and brought them into it's domain.  For centuries Goa was considered the headquarters of the Catholic Church in the orient.  Goa is India's smallest state located in southwest India in the region known as the Konkan.  And it is noted for its beautiful Cathedrals and serene beaches.   At Christmas, almost every home in Goa has the light of a star shining to welcome the coming of Christ.

A shop in Goa where colorful Christmas stars may be purchased

A Christmas star in flora fusion

***

I know I have mentioned before that my mother was born and raised in India.  She lived in Allahabad as a young girl and attended St. Mary's High School.  Later her family moved to Lucknow where she attended The Loreto Convent.  The schools were either boarding or day schools depending on your needs.  Her father, my Grandfather, was of French and Indian descent, and her mother, my Grandmother, was of German descent.  Mom and her four sisters, all of whom are still living, attended English schools  and the Catholic Church.  I asked mom to enlighten me a little about her Christmases growing up.

* In her own words my mother says: *

"Christmas was celebrated all over India, the schools let out for winter vacation and we were off a whole month.  But, we were kept busy, making paper decorations for the house, knitting gifts, and Mums was busy with her baking.  We had to sort through the various raisins she used, then they were rinsed and put out to dry.  Almonds were cracked, soaked and peeled, and then dried and chopped to be used in the cake.  Spices were pounded, also to be used in the cake.  Mums used suet, and it was put through a special process to be used in the fruit cake and also in the plum pudding."

Plum Pudding Cake

"Our idea of tree decorations came from books, so we usually picked a tree outdoors, decorated it with paper chains and used candles for lights.  All of the British clubs had a Father Christmas who dressed up and passed out gifts.  We usually hung our stockings on the bedposts, but whenever he came, our toys were generally held in pillowcases, and, yes, we left him a piece of cake that mysteriously disappeared overnight."     

Indian paper chains for Christmas Trees

"As soon as we were old enough, we attended Midnight Mass, when we lived in Allahabad.  It was a huge church, actually a cathedral, and the inside walls were painted by Italian artists.  It was a high mass, and I'll never forget it-I've not been to anything quite like it here in the States.  It could be that my child's mind was impressed-I was probably around 7 years old."

"Christmas day was an all day celebration, even the servants got into the spirit.  They came around for 'baksheesh' (gift), and the gardner's were out in full force selling boutonnieres and posies made from various flowers taken from nearby gardens, including ours!  The Indian Sepoy's got into the act and actually did band concerts.  It's funny, now that I think about it-these Indians didn't have any concept of English music, but they seemed to get the hang of it.  Dinner was the final end of a big day.  We had roast duck, turkey, or whatever fowl was available.  Daddy would somehow get a ham, usually Australian, and the plum pudding would be brought out all lit up.  That was a real treat for us kids, and then, finally, we got to pull the crackers with the little gifts flying out."

 

"We would run into the Tommies (British soldiers) after Midnight Mass was over, going back to their barracks after a night of boozing-they were a big mess, but I guess they missed their homes and families at Christmas.  That was a scene my parents did not want us kids to see."

"All these things are my remembrances of Christmas throughout the years.  It was a lovely time of the year, cold, but the flowers were blooming and everything was green."

MERRY CHRISTMAS MOM!

my Mom, Alma Ena Gabriel as a teenager

The following pictures are ones I gathered from Yahoo images search pertaining to Christmas in various parts of India...please enjoy!

Mango Christmas Tree decorated with balloons

handmade silk Christmas star

 sand sculpture of Santa in Puri, India

 Christmas shopping in New Delhi, India

 Christmas festival in Raju, India

festival of trees-Embassy Hotel in Surat, India

Vizhinjam Church in Kerala State, South India, near the sea shore

an Indian Christmas buffet from komalinunna.blogspot.com

Christmas Stars in Nagercoil, Tamu, India

This  post is dedicated to my mother and her family.  I got to meet my Grandmother once when she came to the U.S. on a VISA.  She was a little woman with very long braided hair that she wrapped up around her head.  My Grandfather passed away in 1965, I never got to meet him.  One of my mother's sisters, Gertrude, who we got to see frequently,  lives in Germantown, Wisconsin, Ethel, whom we also got to spend time with,  lives in Europe, Edie lives in New Delhi (I got to meet her a couple of times), and her youngest sister, Yvonne, whom I've never met, is currently living in Australia.

***

My mother is a major contributor to this blog.  She just (unknowingly) THROWS ideas out there from 600 miles away, and I'm like a magnet-just sucking all the info in!

***

I sincerely hope that you, my wonderful readers, enjoy reading a little history from times past and lands far away.  I ask you to remember that "no matter where we are, we're all guided by the same bright star."

Other sources of information gathered for this story came from:

 guinessworldrecords.com

indianchild.com

And by the way, my survey on The Nina Ship of Columbus...I had two voters, and I thank you kindly for participating.  However, my correct answer was 27 crew aboard the Nina.  But, I have seen several different numbers for the headcount (24 and 25).  Guess I'd better get my facts a little bit straighter!

We're all winners!

And thanks so much for your visits, comments and Christmas wishes on my post "The Good Shepherd".  My mom emailed me and said she liked the post and the verse. 

***

So, I must vamoose-finally finished my tree and DEAD batteries in both cameras!  I know, I know, it sounds like an excuse.  I've seen so many beautiful Christmas trees on your blogs this year.  I'm trying to get mine on here, really I am.  Just need to quit writing so much and get with the program.  And I do have a few gifts to wrap-bah!  Hope to pop back in today with some pics!

 See Ya!

Nadolig Llawen! (Merry Christmas in Welsh)

The Good Shepherd!

An email came floating through my office a few days ago, and it's been on my mind ever since.  It really touched me, so I had to send it home to myself.  A fellow employee sent it to some of us girls-don't know where he came across it.  But I thanked him graciously and decided to send it on to you, my readers.  Not even my mind's eye could have come up with this!

A Nativity Scene was erected in a church yard.  During the night the folks came across this scene.  An abandoned dog was looking for a comfortable, protected place to sleep.  He chose the baby Jesus as his comfort.  No one had the heart to send him away, so he was there all night.

We should all have the GOOD sense of this dog and curl up in Jesus' lap from time to time.

According to the article, no one mentioned that the dog breed is a "SHEPHERD!"

***

" I will not be afraid-for you are with me, Lord I'm not scared, cause you are with me, Jesus."

taken from Psalm 23, The Lord is My Shepherd

as interpreted by Rev. Jackie Love Prim

warrenname.com

"It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air."

~W.T. Ellis

See you soon!

ALLRIGHT! Santa's up and on the prowl! Watch out kids...he's got his list with him, and he's checking it twice!

Photo taken by Suzanne on December 4, 2010

On one of our "walk dates", Karo and I came across a neighbor with this HUGE Santa in their front yard.  He was blowing from side to side, (well, the wind was pretty strong that nite) and back and forth.  By shear luck I was able to get this picture while he was standing upright-what a tease, Santa!  It brought to mind the Feast of St. Nicholas.

The Feast of St. Nicholas Day occurs all around the world.  It usually starts during early Advent.  The townspeople start baking and getting the children's stockings ready for the appearance of St. Nicholas.  He scouts around the countryside in late November making his list of good and bad children.  This is the time, in some countries that St. Nicholas leaves treats and small gifts to the children instead of on Christmas Day.  He also receives some pretty good treats himself!

Photo taken by Suzanne

Here we have "Frosty the Snowman" and his polar bear friend.  Looks like ole Frosty is trying to con the bear into the igloo.  "Step into my office and we'll discuss the price of fresh fish! Nyah, Ah Ah!"  Anyway, the outer perimeter of the yard is lined with tiny snowmen lighting the way to Christmas.  And what does that bring to mind?

Well, it's ole Frosty himself!

"Frosty The Snowman" was written in 1950 by Steve Nelson with Walter E. Rollins.  Even though Mr. Nelson was not a resident of Armonk until 1953, the townspeople in this small town, which is located in Westchester County, in New York, truly believe that he wrote this song with their town in mind.  And they claim their town to be the home of "Frosty the Snowman".  They have a "Winter Walk" festival each year, and Frosty with his "magical" old black silk hat is one of the highlights of this celebration.  This holiday classic was first recorded by Gene Autry and the Cass County Boys in 1950.  Some of us folks have been singing this song for a long time!  (Not mentioning any names, of course!)

*** 

Frosty the Snowman is a fairy tale they say.

He was made of snow, but the children know

How he came to life one day.

Thumpetty Thump Thump

Thumpetty Thump Thump

Look at Frosty go...Over the hills of snow!

***

"Now you go home and write, 'I am very sorry for what I did to Frosty' a hundred zillion times.  And then maybe-just maybe, mind you-you'll find something in your stocking tomorrow morning!" 

~Santa Claus

You can find "Frosty the Snowman" news from lohud.com

St. Nicholas day info from stnicholascenter.org

My printer awaits-will check you later!

bonne journee`

 

A Christmas Tradition

photo by Alma Jones at Christ The King church, Kansas City, MO.

The photo shown above is the Advent Wreath at my mother's church, Christ The King.  Mom assists in the seasonal decorating at her church and helped decorate this wreath.  During Advent, the four-week period that leads up to Christmas, mom's church organizes a project for each week.  Last week they put up 2 "giving trees" for needy families. The children that attend Christ The King school made paper ornaments for these trees and a list of the family's needs is attached to each ornament.  Church members take an ornament, or more, from the trees and purchase the gifts on the list. The following week they bring the gifts back to the church where they are checked off the lists and then wrapped.  My mother's church also holds food and clothing drives during the year for the needy.  Our thanks and blessings go out to this giving and loving church!

It is customary in Christian religions to observe this period and the occasion is symbolized using a decorated wreath with four and sometimes five candles, one for each week.  The wreath can be made of evergreens or a combination of herbs such as rosemary (dew of the sea), thyme (symbol of courage), and holly (symbol of suffering).  In the Catholic church the candle colors are usually 3 purple and one rose color.  In some churches the purple candles signify penitence and fasting.  In the Protestant church, the candles are usually red, signifying the colors of the season.

The first candle to be lit is said to be the "prophet's" candle in anticipation of Jesus' coming.  The second candle is the "Bethlehem" candle in recognition of the city of Christ's birth.  Candle number 3 is the "Shepherds" candle and the fourth candle to be lit is the "Angels" candle-it was the angels that announced Christ's coming.  Another variation of the wreath is the presence of a 5th candle, which is lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.  This is the "Christ" candle that symbolizes Christmas.

Of course, there are various accounts of how the Advent Wreath originated.  It is said that the wreath was a symbol of Advent in Northern Europe prior to the arrival of Christianity.  Some sources say that it was established in Germany as a Christian custom in the 16th century, while others say it did not come along until the 19th century.

My favorite theory is the one of Johann Wichern (1808-1881), who was a Protestant pastor in Germany.  At the mission school that Wichern founded, the children would ask daily if Christmas had arrived.  So, in 1839, using an old wooden cartwheel, Wichern built a large wooden ring with 19 small red candles and 4 large white candles.  He lit a small candle every weekday and a large candle on Sundays leading up to Christmas.  Soon, the wreath was customary among the Protestant churches and later, in the 1920's the Catholics in Germany adopted the custom.  And, today, many families make their own Advent Wreaths at home.  I remember our home having the wreaths and we had Advent calendars marking each day in December leading up to Christmas Day.  The calendars were a lot fun -there was a little window or door that you popped open each day with a Christmas picture and/or saying for that day.

Wreath as designed by Johann Wichern

I gained information for this article from my mother and wickipedia.org.  The large photo at the top was taken by my mother in her church.  The smaller photos were acquired from yahoo images.

Bring a torch Jeanette Isabella

Bring a torch, come swiftly and run.

Christ is born, tell the folk of the village,

Jesus is sleeping in his cradle,

Ah, ah, beautiful is the Mother,

Ah, ah, beautiful is the Son.

This song originated somewhere in the 1600's from the Provence region of France.

au revoir

Finally- The Finale! December and the year 2010 going...going...

December just kind of creeps in, wincing and yawning...looking around, as though it's not quite sure it belongs.  What a job December has!  On unsteady feet it leads the countdown toward a New Year-aagghh!  December strolls along, day by day in the beginning-and, then WHOA!  The pace picks up and she's (or he's) marching to the beat of the "Little Drummer Boy".  Par Rumpa Pum Pum!  And December asks herself (or himself!)  "Am I going to make it?  In time?  Dear Santa, I'm coming...are you ready for me?  And who gets a white Christmas this year?  Will it be the Midwest?  The West Coast?  How about the South?  Fort Worth, Texas got a couple of feet of beautiful snow last Christmas-remember?  Can we have a repeat?"  Decisions...decisions.  It looks to me as though December has a lot on her (or his...) plate.

So, let us try to chill this December and walk- don't run, in an orderly fashion to whatever our destinatons may be.  Remember-he's gonna find out whose naughty or nice!

***

Here at the KardKorner, I'm already busy, as you can see.  I've got the December kalendar printed and posted.  I have also designed our Christmas kards and they're ready for the press.  We don't send out a lot of cards, so I usually make a few that are different.  What's good about computers is that you can use the same design, but go in and make changes for different people.  I always like to put a quote on the back of my cards if I can find one that is compatible to the subject and the recipient of the card.  So I may use, say, 5 of the same card for 5 different people, and the backside of the card will be different for each person.  I started making my own cards, so I could personalize them in a way that the recipient knows the card was made just for him, or her.  Ah, the beauty of technology!

***

Oh Look!  It's Santa-in a four-poster bed!  GET UP SANTA!

One of our neighbors, up on the corner, lights up the street every Christmas with several different displays in her yard.  She really works hard, and has often received the award for best neighborhood display.  I sasheyed up there and took a few flicks-this is one of them.  I don't ever take pictures of others' Christmas displays, but this year I'd like to get some.  I've proposed a series of  "walk dates" with my husband Karo (see-his name starts with a K), that we can walk the neighborhood some in the evenings and get some pictures along with much needed exercise and fresh air.  And he has agreed!  So, we're off!

***

This morning's temperature in Fort Worth bottomed out at 35*.  We managed to soar up to a whopping 63* by 5:00 this evening, and now we're at 55*.  Plenty of sunshine and the rest of the week the temps are expected to be in the upper 60's and lower 70's.  Oh, home on the range!  Thank you for visiting and putting up with my weather reports and other ravings.  Hope to hear from you soon. 

***

"Remember, this December, that Love weighs more than gold."

~Josephine Dodge Daskam Bacon

au revoir, mes chers lecteurs!

Happy Birthday Mark Twain! November 30, 1835

Mark Twain's birthplace in Florida, Missouri

We are celebrating the birth of Mark Twain on November 30th.  Twain was born in a log cabin in Florida, Missouri in 1835.  This cabin is now a historic shrine and a museum that also houses some of Twain's first editions.  And there is Mark Twain lake that runs through the bluff near Florida, Missouri.  I couldn't find Florida, Missouri on a current map, but it appears to be located near Hannibal, Missouri.  The small map below indicates the spot where Florida, Missouri is located.

One would probably think Mark Twain is my favorite author because I mention him often and refer to his quotes in my own writings.  Well, I can't say he is my favorite author, but I will admit, he is the most interesting of authors to me.  So much has been written about Mr. Twain that I find him to be one of the most self-taught and street-wise (or river wise) personalities of all time.  He was a man who had nothing, yet had everything, and was satisfied in his own skin.  And he loved the Mississippi-he said, "The Mississippi River will always have its own way; no engineering skill can persuade it to do otherwise." 

Mark Twain's love of food has become particularly interesting to a wide range of authors and cooks.  There have been some recent writings describing Twain's tastes and how he preferred his foods to be prepared.    Andrew Beahrs is one such author who has written a very descriptive book called "Twain's Feast".  Mr. Beahrs writes that when Twain was abroad he missed American food terribly.  He learned that Twain found European food to be "monotonous" and "tasteless".  Mark Twain's desired breakfast consisted of  "a mighty porterhouse steak an inch and a half thick, hot and sputtering from the griddle; dusted with fragrant pepper, and enriched with melting bits of butter."  Along with the steak, Twain desired a great cup of American home-made coffee with frothy cream on top, smoking hot biscuits, and hot buckwheat cakes with transparent syrup.  A heart attack on a plate (or two), no doubt!

And as I read on, I learn what some of Mark Twain's other favorite meals were. 

The Greater Prairie Chicken

Twain's uncle John Quarle's prairie farm was just about 4 miles from Florida, Missouri on 500 acres.  He would spend several months a year on this farm and always remembered, and, in later years, longed for the foods that he claimed could never be properly cooked outside the South.  And one of these foods was the "prairie chicken" that lived within the prairie tallgrass on his uncle's farm.  He wrote:

"I can call back the prairie, and its loneliness and peace,

 and a vast hawk hanging motionless in the sky,

 with his wings spread wide and the blue of the vault

showing through the fringe of their end feathers..."

I did a bit more digging and came up with a recipe for Prairie Chicken from Estelle Woods Wilcox "Buckeye Cookery and Practical Housekeeping, 1877".  It went like this:

You can find more of these scrumptuous recipes in the cookbook itself by seeing it on line-just type in Feeding America.  I have placed a picture of this book on my sidebar.

"I know the look of an apple that is roasting and sizzling on a hearth on a winter's evening, and I know the comfort that comes of eating it hot, along with some sugar and a drench of cream.

~Twain

In Andrew Beahrs' book, he posts 80 American foods that Mark Twain lists as his favorites.  Here are just a few:

Radishes.  Baked apples, with cream.

 Cherry-stone clams.

Early rose potatoes, roasted in the ashes, Southern style, served hot.

'Possum. Coon.

Hot corn-pone, with chitlings,  Southern style.

Lake Trout, from Tahoe.

Apple puffs, Southern style.  All sorts of American pastry.

Fresh American fruits of all kinds.

And "ice water"-NOT prepared in the ineffectual goblet, but in the sincere and capable refrigerator."

Well, now we have an idea of what Mark Twain might enjoy for his Birthday dinner.  I do imagine that if he's reading this right now, he is chomping at the bits and salivating at the very thought of Prairie Chicken with sweet Irish potatoes, peaches and apples, biscuits, "corn on the ear", coffee and sugar and whiskey.

"It makes me cry to think of them", he wrote.  

Once again, I was inspired by my mother to write this story.  No-she didn't push me into it...she just put a bee in my bonnet.  In September she sent me an article from the Kansas City Star newspaper written by Julia Keller of the Chicago Tribune.  The article is entitled "In Search of the Founding Flavors" and it focuses on the book written by Andrew Beahrs, "Twain's Feast".  Sooo, I bought the book, and it has been very good reading.  I didn't say that right, did I?  It's really very good.  I learned how to raise oysters, AND, how to skin a possum!  You can purchase this book at Amazon.com.

***

I hope you all had a very good Thanksgiving-we over-ate and now it's time to suffer.  This time, though, I only tried two of the desserts instead of all six.  My sister-in-law made a grape salad with white and red grapes, cream cheese and walnuts.  I told myself that it wasn't a dessert, which did allow me to have two others, and I loved it!  Everything was good and we were sent home with some good leftovers!  And our Grandson Shawn spent a couple of days with us, and called me Ammaw and he called Karo Awpaw!  Works for us! 

***

And now I will bid you, my readers, adieu.  Don't forget to vote on my survey about Columbus' ship, The Nina.  The survey closes December 11, 2010.  

 Food for thought, eh?

"Part of the secret of success in life is to eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside."

my friend~Mark Twain

November 30, 1835 ~ April 21, 1910

See you next month!

Happy Thanksgiving from The KardKorner!

photos taken by my mom (1 taken by me) Thanksgiving 1997

Well, well, where do we begin?  These are various photos from Thanksgiving 1997 at my house that I was lucky enough to be able to kreate a kollage with .  My husband Karo and I were dating at the time...we've now been married 10 years!  I don't get to see my family often for Thanksgiving because they live in Kansas City and sometimes it's snowing there at Thanksgiving and travel is risky.  But, as you can see, we're all wearing t-shirts.  The weather in Texas was wonderful.  I'm the one with the blonde hair-you should see it now! AAGGH!  And Karo is the one sitting in the middle of us girls sipping on a chilled Mimosa that my cute niece Erica (the girl with the long, dark hair) whipped up-delicious!   The very center is my groovy sister Leta, stirring her cranberries (and sipping a Mimosa) which are very tasty!  I'ts hard to get a picture of a whole table and everyone around it-n'est pas?  In the upper right hand corner is me, my brother Stan, who lived in Waco, Texas, and my son Rusty.  Upper center is my stepdad,  Bob, who is diligently carving the turkey.  Upper left is my sister, my brother and my mom.  At the bottom center is me holding one of my dinner plates up at my table.  Mom had these plates made for me in Kansas City-they are actually Christmas dinnerware, but since they were visiting, I thought using them at Thanksgiving would be appropriate.   Each piece is different.  They have god's little creatures painted on them.  Rabbits, squirrels and chipmunks-some in the center of the plate, and others on the bottoms.  A lot of BLUE going on there, huh?  And, of course, there's the table with all the blue decor.  The placemats were blue with gold stars on them.  We had a wonderful time during my family's visit-laughed a lot.  And, yes, enjoyed a few mimosa's too!  One my greatest memories.

Unbeknownst to me, my blue dining room would eventually become KardKorner Headquarters.  My old desk was in another room collecting dust and everything else that came along.  And we don't have enough large family dinners for that table.  The table and chairs has gone to a family who enjoys it very regularly.  And the walls are now a soft oat color with  pale yellow beneath the chair rail.  And now, we have a small dinette table for four, and sometimes five that accommodates us very nicely.

***

I am truly thankful for all the gifts that God and life have given me.  My brother Stan passed away in 2007, which still saddens us today.  But we have the greatest memories of him that do live on.  He was our own "Davy Crockett"!  I have a wonderful husband who is always at my side-and he does floors too!  I have my handsome son Rusty who has given us a most precious gift-Shawn!  And, right now, I STILL have a job and health insurance!  I am thankful for my family-mom and her husband Bob, my sister Leta, niece Erica and for Karo's family who have always been kind and a lot of fun to be around.  We have 3 granddaughters on Karo's side from his son Chad.  All three are healthy, cute and smart.  Wonderful girls.  And selfishly enough, I am thankful to be me! 

***

I am also extremely thankful for my readers-it is so much fun reading other's blogs.  I have been entertained by them and have also learned new things that interest me.  Thank you for visiting my blog and making wonderful and uplifting comments.  I was very shy about it at first, and leary of making comments-but I've seen and read such fabulous stories, that I finally had to reach out and speak.  I thank my fellow bloggers for bringing me out.  And I want to thank the readers who visit and say nothing!  I know you're out there!   Happy Thanksgiving!

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I guess you've noticed my new survey on the sidebar...please feel free to vote on it.  No strings attached, as usual.  OK?  I would vote on your surveys any day!  This survey closes at about 10:30 pm on December 10, 2010

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We're looking at 71 degrees in Fort Worth tonite at 9:42 pm!  Works for me!

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And in the spirit of Thanksgiving Day, I think the poem below pretty much sums it up.

For each new morning with it's light,

For rest and shelter of the night,

For health and food, for love and friends,

For everything Thy goodness sends.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

See you soon!

Are We Really Closed For Winter? in my mind's eye...

photo taken by Suzanne November 17, 2010

Every day, along my 6 mile trek into downtown Fort Worth, I pass by this cute little yellow snow cone stand.  I think it just opened up this past spring because I don't remember seeing it here after 12 years of driving this route daily.  And you know, I haven't stopped in to check out their wares either, even tho I have always loved snow cones.  I guess I'm just too anxious to keep truckin' and get home after a long day's work.  But oh!  What a treat an ice cold cherry or rootbeer snow cone would be on a hot summer's day!

Then, sometime in late September, I noticed that the tiny establishment no longer had cars parked around, or customers walking by and stopping at the window for some kind of cool delight.  Does this mean the little stand is already closed for winter, or is it possible that it's closed permanently?  Every afternoon I look for signs of life and laughter as I pass by.  There is a "closed" sign in the little window-so maybe it's scheduled to re-open sometime in the spring.  Looking over at the empty parking lot that encircles the stand, I feel a small frown coming to my face, and I lower my eyes slightly as if I know someone may see the disappointment on my face.  So what does that make me?  Keeper of the stand?  The Snow Cone police? 

YES IT DOES!  And I've decided to do something about it.  I will bring this place back to it's summer heyday!  Sometimes our mind's eye shows us how things could and should be.  I will recreate this scene the way I perceive it to be.  And my journeys to and from work will be enlightened as I turn that corner and pass by MY snow cone stand!

kreated at kardkorner headquarters

Mind's eye:  the human ability for visualization; for the experiencing of visual mental imagery.

wikipedia.org

"Hold a picture of yourself long and steadily enough in your mind's eye, and you will be drawn toward it"

Napoleon Hill quotes (American author)

At 10:05 pm, it is 54 degrees in Fort Worth, Texas

Sleep tight, my dear readers!

KardKorner Comes Thru For Fall!

Photo taken by Suzanne-November 14, 2010

Sometimes, what you're looking for is right under your nose!  I've done enough whining about not seeing signs of Fall...but all I had to do was just WAIT and WATCH.  This afternoon, as we returned from an errand, my husband Karo (that's his real name, sort of), said he noticed a tree down our street that had red leaves on it.  I said, "you know-I think I saw that on Friday.  What am I doing standing here without my camera?"  So Karo kept watch while I went in after the camera.  The result is above.  I kind of spruced it up with charcoal enhancements.    

photo by Suzanne ~ November 11, 2010

Now here we are downtown Fort Worth across the street from the building I work in.  A nice little cluster of trees turning red.  I guess I hadn't noticed them earlier, because my co-worker Cindy told me to step outside and look.  You see, poor Cindy has had to listen to my whimpering about the autumn colors too.  I think she's been on the lookout for me-and, I've been trying to keep my camera close at hand.  Thanks Cindy!   

photo by Suzanne ~ November 14, 2010

And finally, here we are on my sidewalk looking through my crepe myrtle (white blooms in summer) into my next door neighbor's yard.  The dark crimson red is from my crepe myrtle and the bright yellow is my neighbor's "mammoth" china berry tree which is a lustrous glossy green in the summer.  On the right is a younger china berry tree my neighbor planted last year.  It is just now turning and still has some green on it.  Taken from the right angle, these colors really blend beautifully.  And, of course, I had to mess with it and do it in watercolor (kinda like I painted it myself-yeah, right!)  Don't worry, I kept my day job!   

Well, it has finally cooled down in the Lone Star State-we're waking up to 50 degree temps in the mornings.  But tonite it's already down to 52 degrees at 8:40 pm.  Football games are in full swing-go teams!  I remember wearing earmuffs to our football games in high school.  Karo has asked why the warm furry stuff was always on the outside of the earmuff and the part that covers your ears had wires and a small amount of lining.  You know, he's right.  And the wire connecting the two muffs always gave me a headache!  In Kansas, we would put wool scarves on over our earmuffs to keep the rest of our head warm.  Other than just looking "cute", I'm really beginning to question the true function of the "earmuff"!

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And, my dear readers, I know you're anxiously awaiting my next survey.  I was happy to see that my last survey on "Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman" did bring a few voters.  As much as I want to, I DO NOT vote on my surveys myself.  They are strictly for you!

Our Thanksgiving luncheon at my office is tomorrow...here's hoping I can get a few flicks of the annual occasion.  My contribution this year will be my own English Pea Salad and a Pecan Pie (not baked by me). We have about 50 employees, and they are serious eaters!

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Delicious Autumn!

My very soul is wedded to it,

And if I were a bird I would fly about the earth

Seeking the successive autumns.

~George Eliot

"bon nuit"