This is the front of the top I wore yesterday to Julie & Clyde's house. I bought it at Beall's in New Smyrna Beach (Florida) when Diane and I were waiting for Marc to get set-up to play at the brunch. I love flamingos.
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Saturday, December 26, 2009 - Happy Birthday to Uncle Ron. Of course, many of us recall that we stayed at Grandma & Grandpa Berg's house the night our new baby brother or sister was being born because Daddy was at hospital pacing -- maybe smoking a cigar.

The memory is still clear...the phone rang at 6:30 a.m. in the morning. Grandma Berg answered it -- of course, she was already up and had half of her chores completed! I sat up in bed, excited and anticipating hearing the news that I had a new baby sister!

Downstairs, grandma's voice echoed in my ears, "Oh, it's a boy!"

I fell back on the pillow. Not another brother! (And Ron does know this story!)

Later, when Grandpa came back from the hospital, he told us that they had decided to name the new baby, "Oscar Ole." ----------what?

So, I wrote Mother a letter and told her that I was happy to have a new brother and it was nice that they had named him Oscar Ole. I'm sure he was a sweet, little baby. We'll see you both soon. (Although in those days, the mothers and babies stayed in the hospital for a week.)

Then, when Grandpa couldn't keep up the ruse any longer, he told us that he was kidding, and the new baby was going to be called "Uncle Ronnie." whew!

Gotta go. Enjoy your day. Happy Birthday, Ron. see ya later, djb

This is what the front yard looked like this morning after we had the ice storm come through yesterday and last night. It is pretty.
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Here's the crab apple tree outside Andrew's bedroom window - the fruit is ice covered. Yikes! It's supposed to start warming up this morning and get up to 38 degrees.
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Thursday, December 24, 2009 - Thankfully, I had a bizarre series of incidents that convinced me that I should not go to the casino in Iowa today. It seemed as though the universe was conspiring against me. This morning, when I gingerly walked on the ice skating rink that also serves as a driveway, I was doubly glad we weren't driving anywhere.

The main roads are fine but the driveways and the secondary roads are ice-covered. I hope it melts soon. Everything is going to get bent out of shape if it stays this way much longer.

Gotta go check on the situation. see ya later, djb

This battery operated candle is on the table -- it's lit by a couple of double AA's so it won't burn me. I just love that it can be on without me having to worry about it. Plus, it smells good.
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Sunday, December 20, 2009 - Even though I was sickly this morning, I had to take a picture of the centerpiece on the dining room table. At first, I put all real candles on there and then I had the brilliant idea of using this one. It's so pretty.

Better go. Have to take some medicine or something. see ya later, djb

Here's the same view as yesterday but with more light on the subject. I used my Canon camera this time. My camera is still set on Eastern time.
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Saturday, December 12, 2009 - Only three more years until 12/12/12. oh boy!

Today, Patrick and Stephanie are getting married in Spring Hill, Florida. They'll always be able to remember the date: 12/12. I wish them well and every happiness in the world. Plus, I hope they have many years of wedded bliss ahead of them. Look at Patrick's grandparents (the Bergs) -- they'll be married for 64 years in February 2010. That's a looooooong time.

Haven't seen Stephanie in a couple of years. I'm pretty sure Patrick came to Christmas last year at Berg's house. At the time, I was still pretty sickly so my memory isn't exactly razor sharp. Of course, I can go back and look at the pictures. Now that I think "in pictures" I know he was there -- I don't even have to look it up.

That reminds me...Uncle Malvin died on 12/12 of 1996, I think it was 96. Also, the same year Aunt Rachel died on 11/11. I remember thinking "who's gonna die on 1/1???" Apparently no one died on a double digit date until Jarrett did on 3/3/3 - a triple digit. How bizarre...

My mind is like a sieve with a sponge in it. Ay carumba. I'm anxiously awaiting photos from the big day. later, djb

This was the view out of the kitchen window this morning at 6:01 a.m. and 7 degrees above zero.
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Friday, December 11, 2009 - Here's what's in the above photo. On the bottom of the picture are my three little Christmas trees that sit right outside the window (covered with snow). Then, there's Andrew and Jarrett's candles. The next small cluster of lights (to the right) is my neighbor's nativity scene. And all the way on the top is the crescent moon -- which I like to call God's fingernail. Quite a sight!

It's not as cold today as it was Thursday. I think I heard somewhere along the way that Aurora (which is really Sugar Grove) was minus 2 degrees (tuba low) yesterday morning. So, we're having a heat wave this morning. oh boy!

This is it for now. Must get more coffee. byebye, djb

Andrew and Jarrett's grave today. Yesterday, I brought the decorations and today God provided the snow!
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Monday, December 7, 2009 - When I heard that we were getting some big snow storms this coming week, I brought the nativity set to the cemetery along with the little tree yesterday afternoon. After I set them there, I realized that it needed something else for balance.

At the grocery store, I got the red snowflakes to hang on the shepherd's hook. They just didn't have what I was looking for....of course, I didn't KNOW what I was looking for. Then, another lady who was wandering in the seasonal aisle with me mentioned that Walgreen's might have something...

Say what? I hadn't been to our new Walgreen's yet so I drove over there and found the fake poinsettia that is now covered with snow. That's sweet.

I also took pictures of the boys' evergreen trees with snow dusting the branches. Oh I forgot. When I was in the grocery store, I bought initial ornaments for their trees. Today, I took a picture of them. It looks really cool.

see ya later, djb

One of my many nativity sets -- I like this one because it came with a palm tree and not an evergreen! Remember: this is the reason for the season.
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Sunday, December 6, 2009 - It's already the 6th. Can that be possible?? yikes!! We're supposed to have one more acceptable day (close to 40 degrees) and then the SNOW comes calling tonight and again later this week. So, today I'm going to search in the shed for any Christmas decorations that haven't fallen in disrepair. Wait a minute, I think there's also some in the crawl space. Wait a minute, I need another outdoor extension cord. Wow, this is getting to be out of control. Where are my skedaddling shoes????

Yesterday, I spent the majority of my time watching the entire Andrew and Jarrett website upload to the Yahoo server. That was a lot of fun -- NOT. Apparently, some of the links I changed at the top of the home page still have the wrong name on them. I don't know WHAT is going on. The last time I talked to someone at Yahoo, they claimed that it's happening on my end and I know they're crazy.

If you put your cursor over the link, it shows the correct page. Weird. When I found the page with the Animoto videos on it, I didn't think they'd work because I didn't sign up for Animoto again this year. However, lo and behold, the videos DO work. There's music from the Nutcracker and also from Marc E. What a treat!! What fun to see the pictures again and to hear music coming from my website. I miss the music but it takes up so much space.

Better go. I have to take care of business. later, djb

Dec 2, 2:30 a.m. EST - Full Cold Moon. December is usually the month where winter cold begins to fasten its grip (taken this morning at 5:08:57 a.m. EST).
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December 2, 2009 - For some reason, I woke up this morning at 4 a.m. Maybe because it was my last full day in Florida where it is NOT cold -- yet, and I wanted to enjoy every last minute in the sunshine state. (Truth be told: it was cold last Saturday. And when it gets cold down here, it is quite chilly.)

Anywho, I went outside to sit on the patio and lo and behold, there was the full moon shining down on me as I sat in the not so dark. The clouds were moving rather rapidly over the moonshine creating interesting and ever-changing shapes -- it was a nice ethereal show.

And it didn't cost a billion dollars either!!

It's time to get this posted. See ya later, djb