WARNING: This may be a long one full of rambling emotion....

I found out today that my "family" church in Williamsport PA, St Mary's, will be closing sometime this coming summer. It makes me immeasurably sad. This church has been attended by my family for generations back through the 1800's.

I was born in the neighborhood, only two blocks from the church, on Wilson Street. The red door has a plaque on it in memory of my Great Grandmother Nellie Switzer who died March 13,1988 at the age of 98. I used to always tell her "Gram I want you to live to be 100" she would laugh and say "Why in the world do I want to be 100?". She was an awesome, amazing woman. Not even in ill health until about age 95 or so. I aspire to be just like her and I DO want to live to be 100+. I'm selfish like that heh heh...

Back to St Mary's it is a small church. The parsonage was sold several years ago because it was difficult to secure a full-time priest so one was shared with Christ Episcopal Church and St Ann's. Two other city churches in the diocese and it seemed to work just fine. The pew that my family always sat in still bore the gnaw marks of us bored children the last time one of us were in the church (we always check).

I spent many an afternoon in the church kitchen where there were doughnuts frying and sausage sandwiches being made for one fund-raiser or another. My Uncle Larry is on the Vestry and always right in the thick of things. He lives down the alley from the church and he is very grieved over the pending closing.

The last time I was there was for my beloved Aunt Paulette's funeral in May 2003. My sisters and I drove all night to get there. Paulette's funeral was on my sister "B's birthday and after the funeral everyone gathered in the Church Hall for a meal (as is the tradition for all neighborhood funerals) and "B" was HORRIFIED when our other sister "K" stood up and announced her birthday and everyone sang Happy Birthday. She did not think it "proper" to sing Happy Birthday after such a sad occasion but heck Aunt Paulette would have laughed about it and did it to her too!

I want to have Madison christened there. I realize this is something I should have had done years ago but she has hated riding in the car and riding in her carseat up until recently so now time is drawing short. I need to get home and attend services at St Mary's. Have my baby girl baptized at my church where generations of us have been baptized and I need to see my beloved Aunt Barb before it is too late.

We had my family over on Christmas Eve. We had some goo-oo-ood food. The table wasn't fancy but we enjoyed it!

Isn't this cake the cutest? It is from a local bakery (remember I don't "do" grocery store cakes.) The frosting is delicious!

Yep Santa came! The opened presents to the right were from our haul from Stacy's family in Summerville. My lord we got alot of stuff down there!

Madison opened up her Princess Kitchen. She specifically requested this along with the Dora DoodlePad - and a Baby Sister (the only thing she did NOT get!)

a HUGE make-up set and opening her Dora Memory Game

Opening the Dora DoodlePad! That big blue jug is bubble bath!

Playing with her V-tech Laptop.

Madison had a nice Christmas and that is what really matters. She got WAY too much stuff next year will be scaled WAY down. I think she was overwhelmed by it all.

I am GLAD It's over.... and that is all i'm going to say about Christmas this year.

I sure wish I would have taken today off too like Stacy did *sigh*
Next year i'm taking the whole week off as Christmas falls on a Thursday. We had a nice time with his family this past week-end and with my family Monday evening.

It's raining and it's cold and it's going to be one CRAPTASTIC day. It matches my mood perfectly. Madison got everything she wanted and I think she enjoyed it.
Tell me about your Christmas,are you glad it's over with or do you wish it were starting all over again today?

From Our House To Your House!

Stacy~Patti~Madison

**This post will remain up until Wednesday!

** Name one (or more) thing you would like Santa to bring you (that you are not very likely to get) :)

I wanted to say a very special thank you to three wonderful blogger friends that jazzed up my mailbox Tuesday. I got a darling handmade card from Maria at I Can See Clearly Now! Great job Maria and thanks for the sweet words about Holly.

I received a box of darling handmade Gingerbread Men (complete with them holding their own tiny candied ginger men in their little gingerbread hands) from the awesome Scott aka Purple Twinkie. I know they will taste even better than they look - if I can bear to bite into them that is. He presented them in a beautiful green velvet bag tied with gold rope

and a darling teddy bear ornament attached which I promptly put on my tree and will always remember Scott's kindness when I unpack it every Christmas. Most of my ornaments have a story behind them or special meaning. I like it that way! Thank you so much Scott.




Then... as if those two weren't enough I got a big box from Jenie at Insert Catchy Title Here! In it were homemade candies and mini loaves of bread Yummm!!!! Also a My Little Pony Princess and bag of Dora candy (which my greedy child spied and took ownership of immediately and the crowning jewel was an ornament "the old mans big prize" of A Christmas Story - my favorite movie of all time. Oh man I am dizzy with excitement.

Thank you all for making my holiday extra special and sending of yourself cos' I know it takes time and effort to make your own cards and baked goods and candy and time and effort are like gold around the holidays. I very very much appreciate all three of you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

This our oldest cat Brett (three guesses as to who he's named after!) All of ours used to be indoor only but after I had Maddie one got out and they made my life miserable until I let them both go out. I don't really miss the litter box thing and they stay pretty close to home. The other cat Spooky is the pee bandit so he comes in less. Brett is Stacy's baby.

I think he was getting tired of me taking pictures LOL Doesn't he have a sweet face? I realize I don't talk as much about my cats as I did the dogs but I love them all equally. Brett is a five years old, Spooky is four and Sneaky not a year. Reilly will be four on January 14th. He is 10 months older than Madison!
Oh and those lights you see kinda hanging well they weren't until little paws started messing with them. He's always been devilish but sweet as s.u.g.a.r!

I was talking to my retarded ever-helpful sister this morning.
Me: Reilly has ear mites. I got him some medicine. I put five drops in his ear like the box said and massaged his ear then cleaned it with a cotton ball but he still seemed very itchy. I wonder if that got the mites out?

Sis: Did you lift his ear and tap him on the side of the head?

Me: ~Blink~Blink~Blink~ What????

So... anybody have any advice on what further action I should take? I'm scared to ask her anything else! LOL

Tomorrow or Friday my post on Holiday Kindness

A big fat F U to Crying Cow Bank. Why lay people off before Christmas? You could have waited a few weeks. Yeah your stock is going down the shitter at the rate of a landslide on ice but still........ (p.s. No I did not get laid off but alot of good people did and still may)

A big fat F U to the U.S. Mint. Money is WAY-Y-Y-Y over-rated ya know?

Another big fat F U to Father Time. (can ya tell i'm getting stressed out over the big C? Can ya?) Slow it down just a tad mmm kay?

To my esteemed group - No life as you know it will NOT cease and desist if we do not do a freakin' "Chinese Christmas" next week. Jeezus kee-rist it is a $5 gift people, NOT the holy grail. I am sick and tired of the bickering over this.

To My Beloved Mother: If you do not keep giving Madison stuff every time we go to your house to cart home and for me to display..... I know you love her/us, I know you like to give things but I do not have any end tables I do not have a coffee table and I do not have anywhere to display stuff! Now Stop It!

To The Andes Mint Co. - Why-why-why do you make the goodness that is the peppermint crunch mints only in December and why can I only find them at select Dollar General stores (which I only ever go to in search of these mints). I found these little delights year before last. Last year I couldn't find them at all, this year you have teased me with a bag or two here and there. U Big Tease!

Isn't this the cutest little Elf?

I WISH I had a body like this whoo hoo! LOL I just thought this was silly and fun.




Reilly is so sad without Holly. He's pitiful. He will walk around looking for her and he looks at me like "Why Mamma? Where is she?". It makes me want to cry! Stacy was outside last night and he said he thought he heard her bark and almost yelled at me to let Holly out. I guess it will just take time. *sigh*

I think the spiral trees make me think of Who-ville. We're going to put a few more of those up (like it NEEDS it Ha!). When it comes to jewelry etc. I do subscribe to "less is more" but not when it comes to Christmas Lights. No Siree! I think you may want to click on the pics to make them bigger.

Back behind mega-Frosty is Madison's playhouse - decorated for the season also!

You REALLY might a redneck if.... you have Nascar Santa in your yard! We tried to change #48 to #38 (Stacy's number) because we are DEFINITELY NOT fans of Jimmie Johnson

My Santa Claus and animated packages. This is really quite pretty.

My front door, click it to make it bigger and read what is on Santa's Cap :)

My entrance-way. That !@#$%^& wall-paper just kills everything! Aren't my fairies pretty though?

Madison's "mermaid" theme tree in her room. I wish you could see the ornaments they are so pretty!

My hodge-podge old-fashioned Christmas Tree. The tree topper is new this year. We used to have an angel but she quit working. I think i'm going to look for an Angel Yorkie ornament in honor of my Holly Bug.

**** It was hard going home last night but we'll be okay. I miss you Holly Bug!

My little princess is gone. Holly passed away last night. When we got up yesterday morning she didn't follow me around like she usually does and I thought that was odd but Reilly went back to his bed too so I just went on to work. I figured they were down on their beauty sleep since I was home all week-end with them. When I got home I could tell she hadn't eaten. She had peed on the floor a little bit but she must have just peed on herself because she was wet. I took her outside and let her go potty and then took her in and gave her a bath and dried her. I started cooking her some rice with chicken so entice her to eat and while I was doing that she snuck off and went up under the bed in the spare room. I found her and got her to eat a little. I could tell she was only doing it to please me. At that point alarm bells were going off. She didn't appear to be in any distress or pain or anything feasible like that, I just had a feeling we were going to lose her and soon. I think she was LOT older than I even thought (which was 10). I held her most of the evening and cuddled her and talked to her. She would lick me and I think she enjoyed our time together. When it was time for Madison to go to bed I told her to kiss Holly good-night and tell her she loved her, which she did. Twice. When it came time for us to go to bed I held Holly and kissed her and told her how much I love her and I want her to be there in the morning. I told her she has the sweetest, prettiest little face and I am so glad she came into our lives. About an hour after we went to bed Stacy went to check on her and she was gone. She just went to sleep and I firmly believe she waited until we went to bed also. I am going to miss her so much. I know I did the best I could for her, I know she knows she was loved. It just hurts to much to know I am not going to see that little face anymore or see her try to hop up or so many quirky things she did.

Maddie is to the left of Ciera (the girl in the Santa cap) I think next year Stacy and I are going to volunteer to do a real float for Miss Patsy. This was kind of cheesey in my opinion but it got their faces out there LOL

Madison and her little friend Ann Kathryn who did NOT want to ride in the truck as you can see by the look on her little face!

I stole this from the FABULOUS Cheeky. Go check hers out and tell her I sent ya.


My name...Patricia aka Patti
My website.....this one
I hail from .... Pennsylvania but currently in South Carolina Y'all.

1. All I want for Christmas is.... some homemade goodies but I don't think my Mom is even baking this year. Waahhh!!! My kitchen is the size of a postage stamp but i'll do a little somethin'-somethin' i'm sure! Seriously I just wish for everyone to have a happy holiday and get what their hearts desire. Oh and as Katie would say "A bacation" wouldn't be too bad either. Something involving an airplane LOL

2 My favorite holiday cocktail... well I can't say i've ever had a holiday cocktail but I saw some awesome holiday martini kits at T*arget! I love flavored martinis!

3. My favorite holiday party hors d'oeuvre.... anything with CRAB in it. Or Shrimp...Ummm.....

4. The average price I spend per gift.... $20 is average but usually it's more. I tend to go way overboard but I just can't help myself!

5. My favorite gift to give during the holidays .... I wish I were crafty or clever enough to do homemade. I LOVE homemade things. So personal. You give of yourself when you do that.

6. Something overrated about the holidays .... Gimme Gimme Gimme and Snow *sniff* (just because we get snow once every twenty years IF we are lucky)

7. Something I must have before Christmas .... time and money.

8. One thing I always do during the holidays ... go out and look at Christmas lights. I love it!

9. Where I love to shop for the holidays ..... everywhere. I like Black Friday just cause people are so nuts its funny.I agree with Cheeky it's important to go with a good attitude and just enjoy yourself. Which is why if there's anything I REALLY want (and I never bother with the $300 laptops etc) I get it first so I can relax.

10. A holiday tradition I have .... I love to sit in the dark and just look at the tree. I also LOVE doing the stockings. Stocking stuffers RULE!

11. One thing you won't find me doing during the holidays... not giving thought into whatever I give. It's not the cost but the thought that counts with me. I could NEVER be one of those people (ahem like some family members who will remain anonymous) who can go to the dollar tree and grab an item and throw a tag on it.

12. What do you want for Christmas.. Well I asked for a silver ball necklace for my slides, I want an SC Gamecocks Rocking Chair from Cracker Barrel, a pair of Levis, A wool peacoat and anything monogrammed is always always welcome with me. I love candles and homemade stuff too but I don't know anyone who does that. My sister B is having carpal tunnel problems so I doubt we'll even get anything from her and she is the best at making cool stuff. Sorry I got on a roll here.

I am not tagging anybody - if you do it tell me you did and I will come check it out :) If youre a lurker let me know and i'll come check it out. BTW I find it hard to believe I usually get around a hundred hits (many from the great state of TX) and only 20 or 30 comments. Come out come out wherever you are!

The ad on the box said "The only candy that licks you back" - I found it exremely funny so I bought some for stocking stuffers.

I think how it works is you press the button and the reindeers tongue moves in and out but it's a lollipop! Bwaa haaaaa.... how hilariously gross is this???! Right up there with the little baggies of mini marshmallows a la' "snowman poop" and the Reindeer who poops bubble gum and I saw a little tiny bowl of reindeer food that was tiny chocolate chip cookies. Gross stuff rules!

Since I know some of you LIVE to see me make an ass out of myself to hear of my many exploits I wasn't going to blog about this then thought "Ah what the hell". Some of you already know about it, sorry for the redundancy (million dollar word of the day there). There is a site I visit just about every day Absurdly Cool Freebies and I get stuff all the time. Well today a little box comes in the mail. I sit down at the computer, open the box while reading my email, open the little bag that comes inside and pop a handful of cereal into my mouth. Uh oh. NOT cereal, Dog food. Science Diet Natures Best to be exact. Yum!
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I won't be visiting blogs until maybe this afternoon. I have to go buy a new tire. Lucky me and tomorrow - BACK TO WORK!

Here are my gorgeous flowers! (shaddup about the wallpaper Shell hehe...)

A close up to show the pretty holly berries in the bouquet

See the gold accents, aren't they just beautiful?

They really catch your eye as you walk in the foyer!

Many thanks again toDAISY AND MANBLOGGER!
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Also what i'd do with a Million Dollars
I took out this part it was causing the page too long to load..

Boy it seems like FOREVER since my last post on Wednesday evening. As you can see I made it through just fine. It was an ordeal, more dizziness and nausea than I even let on to Stacy but I toughed it out with the help of my pain meds. I took twice as many as I was supposed to every two hours instead of four. Yeah it was that bad. I think things to do with your ears/head etc just are worse for some reason. Anyway i'm doing much better on this Monday than I was on Friday! Here are a few pictures for your enjoyment *snort*
Me before I went under the knife. Don't I look SO brave ha ha!

I really did have some sweet nurses but they had trouble running my IV and blew a vein .. twice. There was blood on the walls and the floor. Ack. Isn't this a lovely souvenier to remind me?
Nurse Bonnie drew a smiley face when she finally got the IV ran successfully. Cute!

Riding home from the hospital with what Stacy and I jokingly call my "nut cup" over my ear. Fashionable!

Saturday I received the most GORGEOUS bouquet of flowers from DAISY AND MANBLOGGER Thank y'all so much. You don't know what that means to me and how much it brightened my whole.. well week! I smile every time I look at them. I took some pics and will download those this week. I definitely want you to see how beautiful they are.

Well it's Wednesday evening and I figure I can pop on here in the a.m. and post this before I leave for the hospital.
I felt like I wanted to burst into tears when I was walking out of work today. Weird. I guess I get more emotional about things sometimes than I should. I try to be very quiet about things and private. I have been fielding emails and messages tonight. I just don't want to talk to anyone but it's nice to hear that they do care. It was hard to leave Madison at Carrie's. I've explained things to her as best as I can but she doesn't really understand. She started to cry one time when I was going from the Den into the Kitchen so when I really was getting ready to leave I distracted her with bath fizzies from Chuck E Cheese. They did the trick!
Anyway i'll post when I can and i'm sure i'll get caught up reading blogs as soon as possible. Y'all be good!
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I am going to be working on Christmas Cards soon so if you want one from me email me your name/address to tindal38@yahoo.com EVEN if you already know I have your address send it anyway this way everything is condensed together. I still haven't unearthed my address book from the last move and my yahoo emails are numerous so if you would re-send the info that would be a huge help. Thanks!

EDITED TO ADDMine and Maddie's pajamas are from Hanna Andersson. They are 100% organic cotton and the softest comfiest pj's!
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This one didn't make the holiday card cut but I thought it was a nice group shot of us anyway.

I have this one in full color as well. Madison just thought it was the greatest fun having our jammies on when it wasn't time to go to bed. Check out that cheesy grin!

We took the girls to Chuck E Cheese and we all had a blast! I think Stacy likes that place as much as the kids do! Hopefully next week I will have some pics of my Christmas decor for your viewing pleasure. Have a great day all!

It went from 80 to freezing within a DAY! Not kidding. The pooches are warm though! I laughed yesterday while Carrie and I took the girls to the Mall Stacy was at home putting up Christmas and setting the tree in the stand and of course the dogs were in and out with him. One would come in, he'd take their coat off, then want to go out and he'd put it back on. Just like having two more young un's to run after! Here is Reilly in his sherpa coat which has kept him warm as toast for the past few years.

I just bought Holly this fur hooded parka yesterday. Isn't she sweet in it!!! Yes I know the lighting sucks. I'm no photographer as you well know.

A better shot of my little pretty girl in her parka. She didn't mind it at all. Even Reilly who is a major PITA about getting dressed doesn't mind his coat because it does keep him warm and they both HATE to be cold!

Back to our Christmas Tree we went to the local farmers market and got our tree yesterday. Because of the drought conditions we paid $15 more than we did last year but we will always have a live tree. Tradition. I'm all about tradition! Hope you all had a great long week-end. I did. I didn't get to visit any blogs but i'll try to get caught up today and tomorrow.
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Chickie sent me an awesome box from The Little Black Box chock full of good smelling lotions,scrubs,soaps and tarts and maybe some things I haven't investigated fully yet! I confess i've already opened it and used some things so I have no picture of it in it's pristine new condition. I'm sorry. I HIGHLY recommend you check out the site and order one. Thank you Chickie for thinking of me at a time when I really needed it! You rock girlfriend. Not only are you a kick-ass wife, step-mother and pet-mamma but you are funny, gorgeous and have a warped sense of humor.I heart you my sweet friend!
Another big thank you to Daisy and Manblogger for the sweet friendship card they sent me. I am so thankful I met this wonderful pair through my blog!