Question of the week: Haunted things

I came across this website which challenges us to a "question of the week" so as to ponder and contemplate. This weeks question:

"Do you believe (and sure, I probably should have done this question back in October, whatever) that a house* can be haunted or that people can communicate with the dead?"

I must admit - the comments to that particular question immediately jump to the empirical: nope because it's not possible. And Columbus believed the world to be flat and look where that got him. Point being: we assume how things work one way until we prove it differently, better using a different means and explanation.

That's why we have science.

But to casually dismiss the existence of a haunted house or mysterious happenings is simply subscribing to the "earth is flat" belief without at least being open to the possibility. And that's as far as I can personally take it too -- because there's no proof to say the answers rest in science any more than we can prove that something is haunted by a spirit of some kind. We simply do not know.

We find ourselves gravitating towards a comfortable explanation that soothes and satisfies our sense of awareness in the universe around us. If our beliefs are centered so that no spirits live amongst us - then your comfortable with dismissing it and living your life in that way. I happen to believe there is -- and it's not based on science, a proof, or anything of that sort. It's a feeling. And whether or not I'm projecting my feeling in that particular "odd moment" when I feel the presence of someone else or that something isn't quite right -- then so be it. That's a fair and balanced look at it.

But ultimately - we don't know, so therefore - how can we derive such concrete answers?

The End of 2007....Start of a New Year

2007 In The Beginning...
Where did you bring in the New Year? at home watching movies
Who were you with? Michael
Did you kiss anyone at midnight? yes!
Did you make any resolutions? I don't make resolutions just try to be a better person, treat people with kindness and respect and do my best in everything.

2007 Your Love Life...
Did you break up with anyone? no
Did you get anything for Valentine's day? yes -- a few years ago Michael bought me my art domain for Valentines so he renews it for me. It is nice loving a geek!
Did you meet anyone special? People with Artspace. Everyone I have met there has been really great! And Jessica introduced me to Angie and she is a fantastic friend too.
Did you fall in love? Yes.....with Michael all over again.

2007 Friends and Enemies...
Did you meet any new friends this year? yes
Did any of your friendships end? yes
Did you dislike anyone? yes
Did you make any new enemies? I am sure of it.
Who was your closest friend? Michael always is the person I turn to first but this year I also really relied on Aydeen, Jessica, Caroylnn, Kaylee, Jen and Mandy
Who did you grow apart from? More people than I wanted.
Do you have any regrets when it comes to your friendships? That a few ended with reasons that seemed very odd, one was lying and that I didn't keep in contact with Aydeen as much as I wanted too.

2007 Your BIRTHDAY!!!
How old did you turn? the big 4-0
Did you have a cake? No -- at my request
What did you do for your birthday? My parents came to celebrate with me and we spent the day at Denver Art Museum and then we all went to dinner and Michael's parents joined us too.
Did you have a party? No...thank goodness
Did you get any presents? Yes...many many....Beauty and the Beast from Michael along with several other things and then my dear sweet sisters decided to be cute and gave me 40 gifts! As much as I didn't want to be reminded I was 40.....I did like their present it was very cute!

2007 All about you...
Did you change at all this year? yes
Did you dye your hair? yes several times!
Did you get your hair cut? yes....7 inches off
Did you change your style? not really just cut it much shorter
Did you get good grades? well in 2007 I wasn't in school
Did you have a job? Work for Michael designing websites and then also create art
Did you drive? If I have too....but I don't like to.
Did you own a car? No not this year, I gave my car to a person that was in need a few years ago.
Did you move at all? No
Did you go on any vacations? We did a few road trips. We went to Moab just for the night. And then we went to Minnesota to celebrate my parents 40th Wedding Anniversary. We also went to Louisiana but that was for work although we had a nice time together on the road.
Did you leave the country at all? No
Would you change anything about yourself now? weight always but it is a road block for me emotionally and mentally. Maybe I can get through some of that this new year.

2007.....Wrap Up.
Was 2007 a good year? yes I really feel it was a very good year for the business, our relationship, family time, health and just overall.
Do you think 2008 will top 2007? yes I believe it will be even better then 2007.

Last Count

We went to see The Golden Compass on Christmas Eve. Although of course not exactly like the book it was still a good movie. CGI great...because the animals were just amazing. It was a nice way to spend Christmas Eve!

As I have mentioned in other posts I really didn't read much last year as my depression just wouldn't allow me to concentrate enough to get into a book. So I getting back into reading I thought might be hard so I set a loose goal of 25 books this year. Well I was thrilled when I went past 25! I have enjoyed reading so much....it is a nice way to relax and I read a lot of page turners this year. My final count is 53 (as I think I will finish the 53 before the new year.) So not too shabby but I really was a little deflated when I found out a friend met her goal of reading 10 books A MONTH. She must be a very fast reader. Because I just don't think I have the time for that many books. I hope to be able to just enjoy 50 more in 2008.

Gift of Love for Christmas!

This morning I woke up seeing the Christmas tree in the living room from our bedroom...all the lights on it were sparkling. And Christmas music just starting to float through the air. It was Christmas! We were out of town with family on the actual Christmas so decided to have our traditional Christmas celebration today. The stockings were packed full, the presents spilling out from under the tree and it really did feel like Santa had visited our house last night.

We opened our stockings first....I pulled out a folded piece of paper...that had me in tears the first line. Michael has a way with heartfelt feelings coming through in words. It basically was a reflection of this past year together and just over all our time together that touched me deeply. His words were beautiful and full of love. We are romantics at times. Today was definitely filled with romance and love.

I am very grateful for each moment together. As I said in my last post there are moments everyday that make my life truly special. And of all the gifts under the tree that letter will be one I cherish and remember always. Because it is the gift of love. I know I am being all mushy...believe me I am sitting here in tears as I type. I am very blessed and grateful for being a part of his life. And I love you very much Michael!

Friday Gratitude...

5 Good Things in my Life...
1. A good Christmas with Michael's family
2. Excited about celebrating our Christmas tomorrow
3. Friends having their baby yesterday. And baby and Mom are good!
4. New stockings to fill full of treats
5. Snow so pretty

Quick Glance Year End Review

January
a death
a wedding
trip to Utah
contact from an old friend
sold a piece of art that really meant a lot to me

February
4 year anniversary with Michael
Sent out several Valentine's cookie packages
My sister's came so Michael could tape us for a video
zipping through books

March
A friend lost her infant son
Started a round robin with altered book -- but that has kind of stalled now - and really hope eventually I will get my book back as I really liked what I did with it.
My parents 40th Wedding Anniversary

April
Wonderful day trip
Remembering our friend that died in 2006
My sister sent me old letters my Mom wrote when she was pregnant with me and when had just been born....they were great stories and really such a treasure to have

May
Cali died
Read a really good book by Marge Piercy
Art & Jazz Festival
Bought some really great art
Trip to Denver

June
Painted the deck...which was oh so fun!
Leaving for our trip

July
visited the town I grew up in
Celebrating my parent's 40 years of marriage
Read The Mermaid Chair and really related to it

August
Celebrating Michael's 1 year of owning his own business
Really starting to think about turning 40
Made amazing scones with whole wheat
Tracked down an old friend and was contacted by her
Michael had an extended out of town work trip
I taught a class for Artspace

September
Out of town with Michael for a few days while he was working
Finished West Wing
Getting ready for a big trip
Heavy art month for me

October
Out of town for a couple weeks
Hair really cut off!
Lots of fun decorating for Halloween
Out of town for my birthday
Michael spoiling me like a Princess
Seeing my parents for my birthday

November
Wrote an article to be published in March
Project Runway starts! yay! my guilty pleasure
Thanksgiving! Yummy!

December
Michael's BIRTHDAY! yay!
Decorating for Christmas!
Baking Baking Baking
Snow
Christmas!!
A good friend had her baby (yesterday)! yay! So happy for her and her husband!

Now there were countless times not making the list that were just so special and important to me. There were times of just taking a little us time in the middle of the afternoon...times snuggled up in bed laughing and talking....times that just are truly are the moments that make my life special everyday.

Merry Christmas!

Michael and I just got home a few hours ago. We were going to come back tomorrow but well the weather decided to act up so we needed to take the clear window.

We had a really nice Christmas with Michael's family. It was definitely a WHITE Christmas! That was really neat....I always prefer Christmas with SNOW! I so wanted to go out and play in it. I did get a chance to throw one snowball at Michael! And of course he retaliated.

We will be celebrating our Christmas on Saturday. Opening gifts and having our traditional dinner -- well mostly because we have had a lot of ham the last few days so thinking of doing a pork tenderloin in the place of the meat. Although the ham Frank and JoAnne had was oh so very good! Really good flavor to it.

I was able to go shopping this morning and hit some good after Christmas sales. I love after Christmas shopping to get stock up decorations, home decor and paper goods. I got some little hand towels for the bathrooms, cards, tags, mailing labels, stickers, napkins....AND STOCKINGS! Michael and I have been needing new ones. They are a wool - one red one green with our initials on them...very simple but Michael and I like them!

After that we hit a few more places plus had breakfast at on of our favorite places over there. We also got a chance to go to World Market. They had 75% off all their Christmas items so I got a few ornaments that were really inexpensive.

So it has been a long day with shopping and then 4 hours of traveling. I am exhausted and we have to get up early tomorrow to run errands and get ready to celebrate our Christmas on Saturday.

I hope everyone had a VERY Merry Christmas....filled with happiness and love!

Out of Town...

This will probably be quick post as I am out of town and not really a lot of free time.

We had a good day although very long. We are just ready to go to sleep for a few days. We went to bed at 12:30pm and got up at 5:30am. Then it has been a day of celebrating with family. Although very good.....very long.

We had a TON of food. Really I think I am going to suggest a change for next year -- that we all bring less. As really the food could feed all 13 of us for weeks I am sure. But it was all great!

I mentioned on Friday we went out looking at lights and that is one of my favorite holiday traditions with Michael. Really Christmas Eve traditionally is my favorite time/tradition. We have a really nice dinner, wine, at times dance and then go out and look at lights. We come home and just enjoy the time with each other....knowing how blessed we are to be together enjoying this journey. So although we aren't going to be home tomorrow....I know I will look at him throughout the day tomorrow and still reflect, remember, and remind myself how truly blessed I am.

Enjoying Christmas!

I talked with my Mom on the phone tonight. It was a long and good conversation. We hadn't talked in a couple of weeks so glad to be able too just chat. She told me I was on the ball this year as they got their present and card early. I told her I really thought it was because the tree and decorations around the house were up earlier then usual. Most of the time things kind of fall all together...where I am rushing to decorate, shop, do cards and bake all within a short time frame of each other. But this time it was like one thing ended the next started and it wasn't a rush between. Last week was pretty busy but it still wasn't like years past. So I got cards out, did letters with a few of them, got shopping, baking and mailed out packages and this week really I haven't had much Christmas stuff to do. I actually have had a pretty laid back week - and thank goodness for that as I had 2 migraines.

So it has been a very pleasant Christmas season for me. I have been enjoying it thoroughly. Tonight was one of those things I always enjoy of our Chrsitmas season together. Michael and I went out looking at lights! We got some starbucks, turned on XM Holly, sang and went looking at all the pretty lights. There is one neighborhood that really has great lights. They have a pond and the lights reflect on the pond.

We reflected on the last year a bit. It has been busy. I do remember though last year at this time he was just starting to use a cane after his knee injury. So I am glad his knee healed and is better! Another I am thankful for is that it has been great year for his business. It just keeps growing and I am VERY grateful for that! We got to go see my family this past summer and have a celebration that was incredible. One I know I will always remember and cherish. There are many more moments of course. But I should wrap this up...

Tomorrow is packing and just getting ready to leave on Sunday for Michael's parents.

Friday Gratitude

5 Good Things in my life...
1. Gifts and Cards from friends and family arriving
2. Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha
3. Chatting with my Mom
4. The DVD Michael made for my parents 40th Anniversary....I can watch it when I am missing my family...and I am missing them lots
5. Going out looking at lights and having that special tradition with Michael

Christmas Tins

I have quite a few Christmas tins for baked goods but here are a set of 3 that are some favorites. My Mom got them for me several years ago and they are perfect for Christmas candies! They are by Mary Engelbreit...I enjoy her whimsy!

Christmas Delivery....

We had a knock at our door earlier this evening....it was a Christmas delivery. Friends of ours in NJ sent us cookies from Mrs. Fields! The package though is so cute I wasn't almost wanting to take it out of its wrappings.

It had a lot of sweet treats!

Isn't it cute....

Christmas Around Our Home

Snowglobe that I got Michael for his birthday. It is one of those motion ones that when you turn the music on the snow starts swirling around. The tin has 3 country holly hobbie like angels and 3 girls always reminds me of my sisters and I. The little bowl that is just peeking out form behind the snowglobe....is a set of 3 that Michael bought me as just a little holiday surprise. They are really cute and I need to take pictures of the whole set!













Please don't mind the crooked picture in the photo as I knocked them when putting the garland up and didn't get them straightened before snapping a photo. The Santa and sleigh are by Jim Shore. We got it when visiting my parents for Christmas in 2004. We got it after holiday sales at the Mall of America. We ended up getting several things in that store.


















We have quite a few glass cupboard fronts so I take paper garland and put it on the shelves to peek through and give it just a bit of Christmas cheer. I have several different garlands - nutcrackers, snowmen, Santas and angels.












Chair with a quilted pillow....the table runner is on the table next to it and then we also have the matching tree skirt.

















The reindeer Michael's parents gave us...I think it is meant as a plant stand but because of the cats we don't have plants because they might eat them. So instead I am using to hold all our Christmas cards!

















Not a full nativity set but this is just a tiny set with manger, angels and sheep that was Michael's Grandmothers. It sits in our 2nd bathroom.














In the little bathroom again....tins and paper snowman and Santa.

O Christmas Tree

Full view of the tree...(click on picture to get a bigger view)


Bears around the bottom of the tree....


Close up of a some of the bears...

The bear with the blue vest and cap is a bear that Frank & JoAnne gave me while they were here and I was sick. It is very soft and cute!

And a few more...

Silly Tired

I am silly tired today. Where nothing is making sense. I am dropping things. I just can't focus. I went to bed stupid late last night but my mind was just kind of going and going so just not ready to go to sleep. I also am getting really caught up in the
Drums of Autumn. I had been only reading a few pages before I hit the pillow but right now it is so good I can't put it down.

We leave Saturday for Michael's parents so I have some things to get done before we leave. But for the most part I can say most of my major projects are done. I have a gift I making Michael but we aren't having our Christmas probably until New Years so I will have time if I need to finish it when we come back. But I am hoping I do get a chance to work on it this week some.

Today is cleaning yay! I need to wash the kitchen floor after baking the end of last week it is needed. I had been wrapping presents in the living room on Saturday so I have to vacuum and straighten up in there because I have Christmas wrap, ribbon and tags scattered about. And I have ironing/steaming to do and clothes to fold. So not a huge day. Tomorrow I need to get some goodie baskets ready for neighbors and friends. I am sure we will need to run out and get some last minute gifts. And then I will need to pack us.

Michael unfortunately has a very full and packed week. He has a ton of work and not much of it I can help him with so it will be very busy for him. And I know stressful to get everything done he needs to before we leave. And I am sure he is going to stress over leaving some of it until we get back.

Christmas Quiz

Your Christmas Sprit Level: 85%

Your Christmas spirit is almost as big as Christmas itself. Christmas is definitely your thing. You celebrate Christmas with enthusiasm. You love every minute of the holidays. Your Christmas spirit is inspiring to everyone who runs into you during the holidays. You make everyone's day just a little bit brighter. And that's what the holidays are all about!

Do You Have the Christmas Spirit?

Perfect Christmas

Tonight I watched one of those cheesy sappy Christmas movies on ABC Family. It was called Snowglobe. I watched it while I cut and wrapped about 70 chocolate caramels.

The synopsis from online: "Everybody has their own ideas about what constitutes a "perfect" Christmas. Angela is about to get hers when she is transported into a mystical snowglobe. Will it really be better than how her holiday usually goes?"

It was very predictable but I still enjoyed it. I love Christmas too but I never had looked for the perfect Christmas. Because each one has something about it that makes it "just perfect." Of course there are things would like to do someday. Like Michael would like to spend Christmas in a cabin in the mountains -- having snow falling outside while we are snuggled up in front of a fire. I think that sounds pretty good too. But how we spend Christmas most years is pretty good too. And usually that is just us and the kitty cats. Christmas Eve we have a big dinner....ham, creamed potatoes, green beans, homemade rolls and then Christmas goodies. Then we drive around looking at the lights. Christmas Day morning is opening stocking, presents and having cinnamon rolls. We then just have left overs for Christmas dinner. Usually ham sandwiches and such and watch movies. It is just quiet, peaceful and very cozy!

Friday Gratitude

5 Things Good Things in my Life...
1. Baking Christmas cookies!
2. Remembering Cali
3. Decorating the tree with Michael -- it is always a special tradition for us
4. Wrapping Christmas presents
5. My warm robe and slippers!

Insane with Christmas Baking

Okay so yesterday morning I finished up Christmas cards and then the afternoon I started baking. After dinner, I did some more baking -- more like mixing. I just mixed up several recipes of cookies and got them in the fridge so I could bake them today. By the time I went to bed last night I had a batch of peppermint bark, maple fudge and then dough for jelly cookies, cardamom butter cookies and molasses cookies.

Then today I made chocolate fudge, chocolate caramels (really this is Michael as he does all the stirring for it -- and they require constant stirring), festive bark (almond bark with m&m's and pretzels), mint thins and then I baked jelly cookies, molasses cookies, peanut butter blossoms, and cc peppermint cookies.

Tomorrow I am rolling out the cardamom cookies and also doing sour cream cookies. And making a crab dip for a party that we are going to tomorrow night.

I really don't like living in high altitudes at times. This year my molasses cookies turned out more like ginger snaps. And then cc peppermint cookies turned out tasting good but I always get them mounded high.....and this year nope flatter. (last year pictures and this year below)

Do you have something you make that you don't want to admit what the ingredients are in it? Like I really like homemade mac-n-cheese with Velveeta but I don't like to admit I use Velveeta. Even just sitting here typing the word out makes me cringe. I hate touching it and can't eat it straight. But I like how it makes mac-n-cheese taste.

Okay so I am always on the look out for things with mint in them as Michael really like mint. So in years past I have tried bars and cookies but never found something that was really good. Well in November I got my holiday issue of Kraft Food Magazine and they had mint thins. I looked at the recipe and though okay easy but umm RITZ crackers ewww no. No I don't have anything against Ritz with a veggie dip or some sliced cheese but Ritz in a cookie made me cringe. But it had mint and it was easy. SO yes I made them! (photo below) And....well I am surprised how well they taste. They do taste almost like a girl scout thin mint cookie. I actually will probably be making another batch as I think Michael's family will like them. And they are actually kind of pretty too so will look good on the trays I am making. But it is going to be one of those recipes that when someone asks me how to make them I am going to cringe and say Ritz crackers. I know probably very silly of me to worry about.

Last years CC Peppermint Cookies

This years

Mint Thins

Other cookies I made today...

Peanut Butter Blossoms

Jelly Slices

Molasses Cookies (more like ginger snaps this year though -- again altitude)

World Aids Day

December 1st was World's Aids Day and this was the first year in many that I forgot. I didn't mention it or even think about. And I feel ashamed. Years ago it was something that I think was more up in the face with education and awareness. And it bothers me that has disappeared because I know HIV/AIDS hasn't disappeared. Stats -- 33.2 million people living with HIV/AIDS in 2007. It is hard to think about so many people suffering. But is something I don't want to ignore or pretend isn't an issue...it is still here. And I hope that one day there will be a cure.