Friday's Friendly Ideas

It's Friday so it's time for the friendly fill ins which are set by Annie at McGuffy's Reader and Ellen at 15andmeowing.com. The words in purple are the prompts that are provided and then the rest is me.

1. I can't wait to see my beloved open my gift to him. I always get him something really silly alongside some sensible gifts, and I love seeing his face when he realises what I've bought him.

2. I have had the same glasses frames for years. I keep thinking I should change them but I can't make up my mind on what to get. I sometimes think I should go for something totally different but then end up chickening out.

3. I would not mind if Santa were to bring me an extra weeks holiday for 2018. As I know that's not possible, then I'll settle for the ability to relax fully with my beloved when we have time off together.

4. On Christmas Eve, I always like to watch a carols program as it always makes me feel really Christmassy. When I still lived in Australia I would always watch Carols from the Sidney Myer Music bowl - it a bit of a tradition and has been running for  80 years.

What about you, do you have any traditions that you have to do on Christmas Eve? Make sure you visit Annie or Ellen's blogs to see what my fellow bloggers have come up with for their answers.

Until next time, be good, stay safe, and make sure you find time for some calm over the next week.

Pamela & Ken

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P.S: Princess Cookie Cat has survived her trip to the vet yesterday, having two teeth removed and her claws clipped whilst asleep. The vet told us that Cookie would be very subdued last night and to keep her quiet - Ha! She was her normal self with no indication that she'd had anything done.

Top Ten Thursday - Christmas Song Back Story

This week's top ten is a little different and I'll let Tamara, our challenge host from Part-time Working Hockey Mom, explain;

"....choose one of your top ten Christmas songs (if you participated last year) or just pick one you like and create a back story.....We want to hear about the characters in that song, and especially all the fun they had last year! Your story is only supposed to contain ten sentences."

I did participate last year and you can read my list of Top Ten Christmas Songs which included a sneaky addition which isn't a Christmas song. It's Peter Cetera and Cher singing After All which was our first dance at our December wedding (that's how it made it onto the list). Here's the song so that you can relate my story to the lyrics.

Here's what I think is happening in this song:

1. One soul, divided at birth and assigned to two mere mortals who would go through their lives knowing that something was missing but never knowing what. 
2. Watching others fall into relationships or finding a special someone, but preferring to live in solitude rather than settle for less than what their soul knew was out there, somewhere in the world, waiting.
3. Then one day, their eyes met across a crowded room (cliched I know, but that's what happened) and it was like everything in the world was suddenly real. 
4.The souls rejoiced as they recognised each other instantly, but the mortals, they took slightly longer to reach the conclusion that they were meant to be together. 
5. Dating had to happen. 
6. Learning each others hearts had to happen, 
7. Through it all the two halves of one soul waited patiently for the moment they would be one again.
8. Finally it happened.
9. After all the years of waiting.
10. Their hands touched, their souls connected, and forever started in that magical moment.

                                                                                           

What do you think? Do you ever imagine the story behind your favourite songs? Before you go, make sure you visit Tamara's blog, Part-time Working Hockey Mom and see what my fellow bloggers have come up with.

Until next time, be good, stay safe, and have a week filled with calm and peace.

Pamela & Ken
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P.S: Princess Cookie Cat has gone to the dentist so thought I should include a picture of her.

A Holiday Hodgepodge

It's Wednesday Hodgepodge time and as we near the end of the year we're starting to get into reflective mode. Thank you to Joyce from the blog From This Side of the Pond for setting the questions - make sure you visit her blog and see what my fellow bloggers have come up with for their answers.

1. Where have you found unexpected magic or delight this holiday season?

My unexpected magical delight happened on Monday when my advent calendar bag (we have little bags that we can put things in) had a unicorn pen in it. I got very excited and giddy over it - my beloved knows me so well. It has unicorns all over it, has several different coloured inks including pink and purple, and has pink fluff on the end of it. It truly is a pen of loveliness.

2. What's your favorite type of holiday gathering? Will you/have you gathered in your favorite way this month?

My favourite type of gathering is one that isn't very big and I know everyone that is there. Ideally everyone can fit around one table and it's sharing conversation and a lovely meal together. My work night out was like this and I know that Christmas day with family will be like that too.

3. Time has named 'The Silence Breakers' (women who came forward with stories of harassment)  'person of the year' for 2017. Would you agree? If not, who do you think deserves the title?

My favourite thing about the Time cover is the person that is off camera and you can just see her arm - this was a deliberate way to represent all the women who aren't famous but who have stood up and shared their stories about harassment.

My people of the year would be all those ordinary people who stand up for those who don't have a voice. The homeless, people who are victimised for being gay, the elderly who are isolated from society, refugees, and the list could go on. There are amazing people out there every day standing up for other people.

4. How did you spend your time this year? Are you happy about that? Elaborate.

We've had lots of days of fun this year doing lots of different things. If you read our blog then you'll probably notice that there are three things that feature slightly more than others and those things can be demonstrated in this very helpful pie chart (maybe I should call it a cake chart).

5. Bid farewell to 2017 in ten words or less.

I'm grateful for all our blessings and the lessons learnt.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Princess Cookie Cat is going to the V.E.T on Thursday to have at least one tooth removed - I'm trying to type quietly so she doesn't hear me. I've had a look at her mouth and I wouldn't be surprised if they have to remove another one at the back. We'll have to start calling her Princess Gummy Cat - in all seriousness, I'm hoping everything goes okay and she doesn't hold too big of a grudge against us when she comes home.

What words would you use to say goodbye to 2017, and are you a party goer or do you prefer small, intimate gatherings?

Until next time, be good, stay safe, and have a really lovely Christmas.

Pamela & Ken
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Sparks of Kindness

Sparks is hosted by Annie at McGuffy's Reader (visit to see everyone else's sparks) and her words are the best to use to explain:

"I believe we are meant to be lights in this world. If we allow our light to shine, we can see where we are going. It is then that we can begin to truly see each other clearly. Together, we can light up the entire world!"

The aim is to post a positive quote, thought, poem, or verse. This is my contribution for this week and I think it's something we should all aspire to.

Pamela & Ken
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Friday's Friendly Notions

It's Friday so it's time for the friendly fill ins which are set by Annie at McGuffy's Reader and Ellen at 15andmeowing.com. The words in purple are the prompts that are provided and then the rest is me.

1. Snow can be so pretty, especially when it first falls and hasn't been disturbed too much. Last week we had lots of snow and I thought it was beautiful (not so much on the roads but still lovely to look at).

2. I am really looking forward to an eleven day break over the Christmas/New Year period - time for rest and time with my beloved.

3. One holiday memory that I cherish is the Christmas I had in Saudi Arabia. Christmas wasn't celebrated in the country but my fellow expats and I did have a get together and bought each other silly gifts. My favourite gift was a pink flipper for my keyring that my friend Elaine gave me as I'd commented on one that she had. Sadly, Elaine is no longer with us, but twenty five years after that Christmas, my flipper is still on my keyring and it still makes me smile.

4. I always thought that Santa came from a Scandinavian country until we had a holiday in Turkey. St Nicholas lived in Myra and was a bishop in the fourth century. He came from a wealthy family and was very generous including dropping money down chimneys to remain anonymous - I'm guessing this is where Santa coming down the chimney originated. Here's a link to the history if you're interested - Click Here to Visit.

Do you have snow where you live, or do you have sunshine all year round? Make sure you visit Annie or Ellen's blogs to see what my fellow bloggers have come up with for their fill ins.

Until next time, be good, stay safe, and it's now only ten sleeps until Santa Claus visits all the good boys and girls.

Pamela & Ken

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Top Ten Thursday - Christmas dos and don'ts

This week's Top Ten that has been set by Tamara at the blog Part-time Working Hockey Mom is the dos and don'ts that are part of your Christmas.

1. Do watch Movies. Christmas isn't Christmas without watching my top five movies and just in case they aren't on tv I have them on DVD. My top five are; Scrooged, Miracle on 34th Street (the modern version), The Grinch (the Jim Carey one), Home Alone, and Love Actually.

One of the most romantic scenes from Love Actually.

2. Don't listen to tv ads. This time of year the adverts on tv can put a lot of pressure on people to try and have the perfect meal, the perfect decorations, the perfect presents, etc. Instead, have a Christmas that is as individual as you are and spend time with people that you love.

3. Do eat mince pies. It's a weird thing, I'm not the biggest fan of mince pies (fruit mince, not meat) as I find the pastry a bit stodgy, but at this time of the year it's the done thing and it makes it feel like Christmas. I really like puff pastry mince pies, but not many places sell these.

4. Don't endanger your pets. At Christmas time there are lots of things around that can be dangerous to inquisitive pets from tinsel on trees to fruit and nuts being dropped on the floor. Be aware of what's bad for them and keep it away from scrounging furbies. Click Here to see a list of things that pets can and can't eat at Christmas.

5. Do buy your pets a present. As important members of the family we always get the brats something. Don't tell her, but I've bought Princess Cookie Cat a huge tub of her favourite chicken treats.

6. Don't forget to recycle. There is always excess paper, cans, and plastics at this time of the year so please make sure that you recycle and help look after the planet.

7. Do make traditional Christmas pudding. Every year I make a Christmas pudding to mum's recipe which includes boiling it in a cloth for four hours - the kitchen ends up feeling like a sauna. It always looks a bit deformed as I've never mastered the art of taking it out of the cloth neatly.

8. Don't overindulge too much. Indulge but within reason. Christmas isn't about eating until you feel sick or drinking yourself into oblivion, but unfortunately too many people use it as an excuse to do just that.

9. Do remember others less fortunate. Give food to your local food bank, give treats to the local animal shelter, or even give warm coats to your local homeless charity.

10. Do pose with a santa hat on.

What do you think, do you have lots of dos and don'ts that are a necessary part of your Christmas? Before you go, make sure you hop over to Tamara's Blog and see what my fellow bloggers have come up with for their top ten.

Until next time, be good, stay safe, and remember it's only eleven more sleeps until Santa Clause comes.

Pamela & Ken
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A Purple Hodgepodge

Wednesday Hodgepodge time with the questions set by Joyce at the blog From This Side of the Pond.

1. 'Hurry less, worry less'...what's your strategy for making that happen this holiday season? How's it going so far?

We handle this by taking opposite sides of this option. I hurry less and worry more whilst my beloved hurrys more and worries less.

2. Do you have a list of to-dos that need accomplishing in order to prepare your home and/or property for the winter season? What are some of the jobs on your list? Are you a do-it-yourselfer or do you hire someone to accomplish these tasks?

The only things on my list are to make sure we have some wood for the fire in case the power goes out and along the same lines, make sure we have matches and batteries for the torches. I don't hire anyone as I have a beloved for that.

3. According to dietitians surveyed, the most popular health foods for 2018 will be -turmeric, sprouted foods (bean sprouts, breads with sprouted grains, etc), veggies in place of grains, dairy free milk, and pulses (lentils, chickpeas, etc).  What's the first thought that ran through your head when you read this list? 

My first thought was that I'm glad that there is no meat on the list, and secondly my thought is that I still haven't found a dairy free milk that I like in my coffee. I don't mind rice milk on my cereal, but not in my daily wake up drink.

 

Of the foods listed which one might you add to your regular diet? 

Probably just adding more lentils, chickpeas, etc.

Also, can milk really be dairy free? Is it still milk?

I think that it is still milk, just like you can get a sausage roll that has no meat in it.

4. The Pantone Color of the Year for 2018 is Ultra Violet. According to the Pantone site 'Ultra Violet communicates originality, ingenuity, and visionary thinking pointing us to the future.' What say you? Do you like the color purple?

Purple is my favourite colour in the whole wide world. When I was younger I went through a black period but once I hit my 20's purple became the colour for me. I'm not sure about the description of what it means, as I think everyone finds very different meanings in colours. Purple features quite a lot in our home, in my jewellery, my phone cover, and other parts of my life.

Did you see the movie or read the book-ha!?  No. Is purple a color you wear often? Occasionally. Describe for us one purple item in your home without using the word purple. My new Christmas ornament of loveliness that I found recently.

If you were in charge of such things what color would you select for 2018?

One hundred percent Pink! My second favourite colour and another colour that is dotted around our home, my jewellery, my clothes, and my hair.

One of our Christmas angels

5. Favorite book read this year?

This year I've been reading lots of romances and it's difficult to choose just one. I'm an avid reader and I'm really bad at putting a book down at night - I keep saying to myself that I'll just read another chapter, which then turns into several.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

This year for my beloved's advent calendar I went with brown paper bags - I like them as I can fit more unusual sized things in them.

What's your favourite colour and is it obvious in your home? Before you go, hop over to Joyce's Blog and see what my fellow bloggers have come up with for their answers.

Until next time, be good, stay safe, and make sure you take time just for you over the coming week.

Pamela & Ken
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