Exclaim

For the letter X this week I'm featuring EXCLAIM. I know it's a stretch. But when you pronounce it do you hear the letter E?

My vintage Santa is perching on the globe--I think he's coming our way!!!!!!

But I heard him EXCLAIM, ere he drove out of sight. MERRY CHRISTMAS to all and to all a good night!!

Linking with ABC WEDNESDAY

Ann

Blue Window

My favorite watering hole is Sonic and I snapped a picture last week of their Christmas windows. This one is blue and fitting for today's post.

I am so pleased that they painted a picture of the manger with the baby Jesus along with their snowman scenes.

Driving through our neighborhood I saw this house decorated so brightly!!  There is a strand of blue-you have to look closely.

I have all my shopping complete but for one person. I hope to get this done tomorrow, I won't attempt going this afternoon--everyone is out on the weekends.

This morning was our Choir Concert at church--just beautiful. It's such a joy for me.

Linking with BLUE MONDAY

Ann

Winter White

We have had the first snow of the season here in Kansas City.  Our area received 3 inches and they are predicting a WHITE CHRISTMAS. That doesn't happen too often.

We have white inside and out.  Our tree is a winter wonderland with white woodland creatures!!

I'm working a little behind in the past month, my Mom has undergone a tremendous surgery for her age of 88 and is currently in rehab. I go to see her  every day so my blogging has become at the bottom of my list.

My niece and her family are coming for Christmas next week from Texas and they are so excited to see snow, will be such fun to see them playing in the fluffy WHITE stuff. Hoping we get more to go sledding.

Linking with ABC WEDNESDAY

Ann

Crafty

I love to make ornaments and my granddaughters have taken after me.  I purchased some clear ornaments and off she went to find my paints.

After painting blue she painted two of her fingers with white and imprinted the snowmen.  I think they are adorable.

These are the kind of ornaments that mean so much from year to year.

Linking with the very merry Sally @BLUE MONDAY

Ann

Vulnerable

Today for ABC Wednesday I am featuring the word vunerable for the letter v.  For the last few weeks we have been very busy with my Mom who fell and shattered her elbow, cracked her wrist and has three cracks in her pelvis.

My sweet mama is 88.

The definition of vulnerable is  a person in need of special care, support or protection because of age or disability.

Mom has been in three hospitals in the last week a half trying to find a specialist to insert an artificial elbow.  We have the surgeon and we are waiting in the hospital in Kansas City for all to be "A GO'.

We are hoping all is on the mend for the Christmas Holidays.

Linking with ABC WEDNESDAY

Ann

Blue glitter

Everyone knows I love anything with sparkles!! Our Christmas cards are addressed and ready to be mailed.

Our card this year centers on the true meaning of Christmas and has several shades of blue.

The blue glitter frames the scene of the wise men and lambs.

I have been a little lax in posting lately, my elderly Mom is have major medical problems. Yesterday she fell and cracked her pelvis and shattered her left arm. I will be traveling out of town to the hospital this week to see what plan the doctors can do for her. Keep Nellie in your thoughts and prayers.

Wishing everyone a good week. Thank you Sally for your hard work.

Linking with BLUE MONDAY

Ann

Thankful

It's the time of year that is set aside to "BE THANKFUL".  But how many of us make a point to be thankful all year.

I am thankful for:
Health
Faith
Family
Freedom
My home

There are so many more but this tops my list.  We are spending the day at my sisters house with her family, another sister and brother-in-law from out of town, me and my hubby and grandchildren. We will have about 17 there.

We have really good weather for all the traveling back and forth which I am thankful for too.

This is a pumpkin with well wishes for all of my blogging friends.

Looking through my "keeps", I found this turkey card our daughter made in elementary school. This was 34 years ago, I don't think I've ever thrown out anything my children made for me!!

THANK YOU LORD FOR TURKEY

Just made my pumpkin pie for tomorrow--don't forget the whip topping!!

Linking with ABC WEDNESDAY

Ann

Prairie Fire

I had a fun time this weekend with my Red Hat Group.  We visited the American Museum of Natural History exhibits at the "Prairie Fire Museum.  It is a new facility with hands on activities for the young  ones included.

Thought this blue window was such a lovely piece of art by itself.

Had such a fun time posing with the interactive screen.

There was a very large section about mythic creatures, dragons, unicorns and mermaids.

After our tour we had lunch at "Penstripes, a restaurant which has a bowling alley and games.
We all tried our hand at Bocce.

One of my friends--an interesting game.

Had a really good time as usual with this wonderful group of ladies!!

Thanks to Sally @BLUE MONDAY for hosting each week.

Ann

"SURPRISE"

My cousin Sheila just celebrated a monumental birthday. Her husband and children threw a surprise 60th birthday party which I was able to attend.

She was really surprised which is hard to pull off.

Shedding a little tear here.

Sheila is a gem, her and her husband own at least 12 nursing home and assisted living residences. She treats the residents like family and they all love her. She is a registered nurse for her facilities and she   also owns a restaurant and grocery so she is so busy.  However this does not stop her from helping anyone in need.  Oh yes, she also has 13 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild!!!!

The decorations were done in a bright blue and pink.

Another sister Debbie came so I got a shot with her.

She has on blue too!!

Sheila letting my Mom know how much she appreciated her coming.

Extended family is wonderful and we do our best to get together a few times every year.

Linking with Sally @BLUE MONDAY

Ann

Record player

As the holidays approach I really love getting out the vintage RECORD player I bought a few years ago.  I have several 45's and a couple of Christmas albums I have kept for decades.

I found this one on ebay. I remember the first record player I received in 1957. My Mom and Dad purchased it for me and my sisters for Christmas. Along with it some records, I would love to still have it but not so fortunate.

There is no sound better than a record played with a needle. I know it's hard for the savvy tech guys but it is perfect to me!!!

I purchased this album around 1963.

Oh I love listening to this album.

I purchased these for my children in the 1970's.

Charlie Brown comes with a book and my grandchildren love reading along with it.

Linking with 

ABC WEDNESDAY

Ann

Paul and Paula

"Hey, Hey, Paula" was recorded in 1962 by Ray Hildebrand and Jill Jackson. They were two college students who were attending a small Baptist School in Texas.  They sang every chance they got but no one knew them as yet.

They dropped into a radio station in October of 1962 (unannounced) and asked if they could record a record.  The studio was in the basement of the station. The song was " Hey, Hey, Paula" written by Ray Hildebrand and it went to #1 on the charts by February, 1963. They were encouraged to change their stage names to Paul and Paula after that and they did.

The song sold over 2 million records at the time.  They went all over the world with Dick Clark and Ray tells a story that they were singing on a  BBC Radio Program.  That day they were singing with several groups and the Beatles was one of them.  Paul and Paula was #1 in England so the Beatles got bumped because they ran out of air time!!! The Beatles loved them and asked for a picture with them and their autographs.

In 1965 Ray decided he did not want to continue and that the life was not for him.  They went their separate ways, he got married and settled down and Jill moved to California and continued her singing career.

In  the 1980's Ray started singing contemporary Christian music and was in a group  known as Land & Hildebrand, they sang for 27 years.

He moved his family to Kansas City and worked with The Fellowship Of Christian Athletes until he retired.

He still gets together with Jill from time to time to perform for special occasions.

In September, my husband and I got to meet Ray. He performed at a 50th Anniversary for a friend of ours.  He gave us a CD of hits and some signed pictures of him and Jill and one of them with the Beatles.  What a THRILL to meet an icon from the 1960's,  I remember listening to their music for hours.

My friend Ruthie sang Paula's part on "Hey, Hey, Paula".

Here he is tuning his guitar.

My hubby is a guitarist and they had lots in common, Ray would like to visit our church. Can't wait for that.

Linking with ABC WEDNESDAY

Ann