My reasons for being

Dave, Becky, Jack and Cassie, the love dog.

Brock, Mandy, Evan and Aaron

The Brothers Tucker

I love the way Aaron's eyelashes are so spiky against his cheeks here.

Sometimes I think they look just alike and sometimes I don't think they look alike at all. Old Ma Nature is magnificent in the way she scrambles up the genetic material in each child.

Essential vs. ridiculous

After the tea my church group had last week, I decided I would start drinking a little hot tea this winter. The bottom drawer of one of my cabinets is the catch all for infrequently used items. Well, I didn't find a tea ball but I did find these 2 gems. The top item is a server for square dips of ice cream. Want to guess how many square dips I've ever served? Yes, zero would be the right answer. This scoop was purchased in a weak moment of nostalgia at Sur La Table. The drugstore in my dad's hometown made square dips and when I saw this I shed a few tears and "scooped" it up. The other piece of equipment is an asparagus peeler. Probably you didn't know there was such a utensil. Neither did I until I found it at a thrift store. It's little box is I think printed in Swedish or one of those languages with the line through the letter o. Think I'll get rid of these worthless objects? Not on your life. As soon as I do I'll open a Martha Stewart magazine with a wonderful recipe that starts: 1lb. peeled asparagus

However, a day does not go by that I don't use these 2 utensils and often multiple times. The mini spatula came from WalMart for about 3 bucks and the knife was a TJMaxx find. I think for a cheap little knife, this nears perfection.

Christmas past #2

I know these don't look like Christmas pictures but they are. When our daughters were young and our family usually spent Christmas with just the 4 of us at home, we had a tradition of going for a picnic at Sabino Canyon on Christmas eve. The picnic fare was usually a Swiss Colony gift pack provided by my in-laws. This however was the first of those winter picnics when my sister Mona flew out by herself to spend the holidays with us. Becky would have been 3 yrs. old and our big gift that year was that we had just found out Becky was getting a sibling. We cooked those Girl Scout burger bundles on this particular day.

Christmas past

Last week when I was out having dinner with my friend Linda, she suggested that now would be a good time to blog some old Christmas pictures. These are not especially old being from 2001 but they are sweet. This was one of the most satisfying Christmases I have ever spent. Evan was 14 months old and Jack just 3 and a half months. They were adorable dressed in their Christmas duds.

Evan was very round and cuddly.

Jack was just a little charmer. It was a houseful of love.

It's magic

After trying to plead, beg, shame or cajole Mr. M into putting up some lights for me (I was really only teasing), I finally went out this afternoon and did it myself. And turned this

into this which truly warmed my heart this evening.

My idol

The lady on the left is my friend Marilyn who is in my EfM class. She is a very dear and interesting lady. She is 15 or so years older than I am and looks fantastic. My friend Kathy is on the right. We had our class at Marilyn's house this morning. She lives at the end of the road on a little ranch with horses, birds and 9 dogs she has rescued from various sources. Her horses also include some rescues.

Her dogs all live in the house, are all well groomed and lovely. This is Bandit who spent the morning with us. He was very well behaved. Marilyn says he is the "nurse" among the dogs and will look after the others.

Marilyn is a wonderful artist and this is Bandit in the painting she is working on this week. Sorry, a little blurred.

This critter wishes you Merry Christmas above the front entry. I so admire Marilyn and hope I can be doing just part of what she does in another 10 or so years.

It is perfect

My whole family decided to cut back on Christmas this year and I find myself enjoying the month of December. Yesterday I spent a few hours choosing some gifts for my mom in a liesurely fashion. These little frame ornaments pleased me far beyond my expectations. When I filled them with their little square photos, it was somehow a little task perfectly done. I so much love how they look that I think I will have to get some for myself. Just a moment of pure contentment.

A very lovely time was had by all

This past Friday our women's group from my church (The Episcopal Church of the Nativity) helped add some delight to the Advent season for the ladies who attended our Christmas tea. The tea table was beautifully and tastefully laid with scrumptious homemade goodies made by our very own selves.

To the right in this picture is Jennie who invited us in to her warm and welcoming home. Susan on the left was in charge of tea preparation and also the baker of some of the most delicious scones I have ever eaten.

Some of the ladies serving themselves goodies.

The undisputed master of the house. What a way to start the season!

Merry Christmas, Baby!

This is my great-niece, Keira. She is a special girl to me, I was honored to be present at her birth. When I visited her house on Friday, she picked up a bag of bows and tried to put one on her head. She is a difficult subject to photograph because she is quick and in constant motion. This picture just makes me smile.

Jake's a star!

Den and Jake started a canine good citizen class this morning at the the Animal Welfare League where Jake had previously been enrolled in an agility class. Denny found himself and Jake on the front of their brochures. Jake certainly looks like the model of obedience.

Jack and Evan

Aaron

Black Friday

It is becoming a Thanksgiving tradition for mom and daughters to go for a Starbuck's and some Target shopping the day after Thanksgiving. This year we didn't get up the oomph until lunchtime. We forewent(is that a word) the drinks in favor of lunch at Pei Wei.

Target had lovely Christmas plants. I really wanted a couple of these for my entryway but wanted them to be on sale.

Aaron enjoyed all the holiday displays,

and especially the stocking stuffers.