7 Quick Takes (Vol 145)

Tick, tick, tick, tick. The days just fly by and the to do list just never gets done.

And yet here we all are ready to dive into the weekly blather. So remember, after you have dissected and digested my witty banter click on the picture above to be whisked, at the speed of fast approaching Christmas, over to Conversion Diary to see the rest.

Now on to the blather.

1.
One big party down. Our Flocks (small group bible study) group is here tonight.

And then the company Christmas party is here tomorrow night.

After that there is just one more group here for dinner and that isn’t until the 16th.

I hope my poor body lasts.

My poor, ever expanding body.

Cookies, Cinnamon Raisin scones, appetizers, wine, meat, CHOCOLATE, cheese, BUTTER, sugar. These seem to be my only food groups for the month of December.

Yes, thank you to who ever brought me that little “sleeve” of Frango Mints. Did you know that those are my ABSOLUTE favorite chocolates in the whole wide world. I did grow up in the Chicago area after all, at a time when the only place that you could get Frango mints was at Marshall Fields. Melt. In. Your. Mouth.

2.
Well, we finally have a bit of snow overnight, just 1/2 an inch maybe. Much better than last year when we had 20+ inches fall with a Winter Storm Warning for days.

In the immortal words of Mitch Jayne, “Just a skiff of snow with everything outside slicker ‘n deer guts on a door knob”.

But our so far mild winter just makes me nervous. Very nervous. When will the snow really come. Because you know it will come.

This is the Frozen Northeast Ohio after all.

3.
Can I tell you how much I love my job. I love it. I do. I love taking architectural pictures. Low stress. Looking for the little details. Looking at the fabulous kitchens.

And I do mean fabulous. Cabinets to die for. Acres of gleaming granite countertops. The occasional built in beer tap or butler’s pantry to covet. And then there are the lovely people who let me invade their space and take pictures.

With the added benefit that I am getting to drive into some of my favorite areas in the Frozen Northeast Ohio. I have been to Gates Mills more in the last month than I was in the 10 years previous. Thank goodness there hasn’t been any snow cuz some of these houses are not reachable without 4 wheel drive in bad weather!

And then there is the occasional dog who poses for a picture or two.

4.
I love The Welcome Home blog. I look for new videos all the time.

Have kleenex ready is all I am saying.

LOTS of kleenex.

5.
I continue to be totally in love with Pinterest. What did I do before it came into my life.

This time of year I begin to struggle with dry hands and heels. There are things in all our lives that can totally disturb our day. For me it is if my hands and heels are dry. The heels especially.

Having skraggy heels just gives me the skeeves.

But no more. Because of Pinterest I have found the best “recipe” for hand/foot cream. My hands and feet are SO happy. And cream only has three easy ingredients that I got at Wally Mart.

You must make this! Homemade Hand Cream

6.
Because I have so much to do these days I am fulfilling my addiction to audiobooks.

Poor HHBL never knows if I hear him when he is talking to me because I often times have my earbuds in. I just get more done when I can have an audiobook to keep me company.

And my favorite for the last several weeks…..P.G. Wodehouse.

Well PGW has been a favorite for a long time I must confess. I do not believe that there is another writer who can be equaled in droll, side splittingly funny, urbane humor. HHBL keeps asking what I am chuckling about but it is just too difficult to explain.

Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry do a pretty good job of it I must say.

7.
I might have mentioned before that I love marching bands.

LoveLoveLoveLoveLove.

So let us end with a stellar performance by the WVU (West Virginia U) Marching Band and their salute to our armed forces.

This was serious work. And it is fabulous.