Enough is Enough!!

It snowed, it's snowing, and it will snow! We got our first round of snow last Friday with another round yesterday and today, we are getting round three. The news is also predicting a round four to come through on Sunday with more "significant snow". We easily have over a foot (0.3m)of snow already on the ground. Ryan used the snow blower last night when we got a break in the snow, and an hour later, you really couldn't see when he worked. This really is an unusually high amount of snow for us.

I am staying inside cleaning and baking. The girls are getting cabin fever because it's just too cold to allow them to go out and play. My utility bill will be high again this month due to the very cold temps!

This is the amount of snow piled up on my outdoor table.


This is the side of the snow path where Ryan just plowed.


Can you find the girls' Barbie jeep?


This is what one of our cars looked like yesterday afternoon. It had been cleaned off from the last snow.


This is our grill.


Can you find the two lane road in front of my house?


This is the tree in my front yard.


This is a special treat for all of those who do not get snow.

Pickle Pops

Just when I thought I'd seen it all:

Nobody's Happy

Cute Story

Ryan is fast becoming a huge fan of country music, so when he drives, we listen to country. There is this song called "Chicken Fried" by The Zac Brown Band. If you listen to country, I'm sure you know it because they play it on the channel Ryan listens to about 5 times a day. Anyway, it goes, "I like chicken fried. Cold beer on a Friday night. A pair of pants that fit just right. And, the radio up."

Jaiden has taken a big liking to this song and goes around singing it, but we changed the "beer" lyric to juice. Yesterday, she asked me to play the song for her on my computer. I went to you tube and started the video. She goes, "Why is Uncle Ryne singing on the computer?" She thought for sure the lead singer, Zac Brown, was her Uncle Ryne, my BIL! I of course called my sister and she told me that they have heard this from other people before. I told Jaiden to make sure she has Uncle Ryne sing the song for her next time she see him! It's just so cute what kids think and see!!

Here's the video:


Here's Uncle Ryne:

Valentine Kids Crafts

Lollipop Rose


Hershey Kiss Mouse

Easy Valentine's Dessert

How to Sew a Zipper

Young at Heart Chorus

These were not able to be embedded. They are great, so be sure to check them out.
Staying Alive

Road to Nowhere

I'll Fix You

Halloween Fun

I was thinking back on past Halloweens for me and the family this morning. Jaiden has dressed up as a University of Cincinnati cheerleader, witch, and a pirate. Arya has gone as a chicken and a pirate. As for myself, I can remember dressing up as a scarecrow, green M&M, snowman, punk rocker (hey, it was the 80's!), dog, a prisoner, a 1920's flapper, and a pirate last year. It's fun to think back!

I was trying to think back as a child, what movies scared me the most. I thought of the Tom & Jerry cartoon. I know you're thinking, "Tom & Jerry?" Yes, it the one where Jerry goes in a bus up to heaven and the dog is dressed up like the devil and takes Tom down the escalator to Hell. It is called "Heavenly Puss."
!

The movie that scared me the most was Disney's 1980 "Watcher in the Woods." I was like 5 the first time I saw this movie and can remember how much it scared me! I would love to be able to find the movie and watch it as an adult!


The book that scared me was Christina's Ghost by Betty Ren Wright. I don't remember what is is about, I just remember leaving the lights on in my room after I read the book.

As an adult, I don't care for scary movies. I have never been a horror movie fan. The only horror movie I watch is Sleepy Hollow with Johnny Depp. Ryan and I watch that movie every Halloween.


Now, I do like the horror books. I have read lots of Stephen King and enjoyed them very much. I think the scariest book I ever read wasn't King, it was instead The Enity by Frank De Felitta. It is a true story about a woman tormented by demons in her own home. They physically attack her and everyone thinks she is crazy. It was a very good book.

And last but not least, we do watch Charlie Brown "The Great Pumpkin".


I hope you enjoyed reading about a small portion of our Halloween past! I will now leave you with a very addicting game:Trick or Treat. Your goal is to find the fastest way back home after trick or treating at the houses. I haven't made it past level 18. Good Luck!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

United Breaks Guitars

This is great! A band was traveling on United Airlines, the baggage handlers broke a guitar and the airline refused to pay. So, Dave Carrol decided to write a song about it. Since the song's posting on You Tube, United Airlines reimbursed him the money and he gave the money to charity.

United Airlines Song Background (short version)

"In the spring of 2008, Sons of Maxwell were traveling to Nebraska for a one-week tour and my Taylor guitar was witnessed being thrown by United Airlines baggage handlers in Chicago. I discovered later that the $3500 guitar was severely damaged. They didn’t deny the experience occurred but for nine months the various people I communicated with put the responsibility for dealing with the damage on everyone other than themselves and finally said they would do nothing to compensate me for my loss. So I promised the last person to finally say “no” to compensation (Ms. Irlweg) that I would write and produce three songs about my experience with United Airlines and make videos for each to be viewed online by anyone in the world. United: Song 1 is the first of those songs. United: Song 2 has been written and video production is underway. United: Song 3 is coming. I promise." Taken from
Dave Carrol Music



Here's song 2

Never Let Go

I am always hearing a small bit of this song on TV during a public service announcement on hunger. Today, I decided to look it up. The song is called "Never Let Go" by Tom Waits.

Here's the commercial:


Here's the song:


And, here's the lyrics:

Well, ring the bell backwards and bury the axe
Fall down on your knees in the dirt
I'm tied to the mast between water and wind
Believe me, you'll never get hurt
Our ring's in the pawnshop, the rain's in the hole
Down at the Five Points(1) I stand
I'll lose everything
But I won't let go of your hand

Well, Peter denied and Judas betrayed
I'll bail with the roll of the drum
And the wind will tell the turn from the wheel
And the watchman is making his rounds
Well, you'll leave me hanging by the skin of my teeth
I've only got one leg to stand
You can send me to hell
But I'll never let go of your hand

Swing from a rope on a cross-legged dream(?)
Signed with One Eyed Jack's blood
From Temple to Union, to LA and Grand
Walking back home in the mud(2)

Now I must make my best of the only way home
Molly deals only in stone
I'm lost on the midway, I'm reckless in your eyes
Just give me a couple more throws
I'll dare you to dine with the cross-legged knight
Dare me to jump and I will
I'll fall from your grace
But I'll never let go of your hand
I'll never let go of your hand

Spread the Word to End the Word

Shh!!!! I'm Sleeping!!!

Christmas Lights & Singing Houses

It is a house in Mason, Ohio, about 15 minutes east of me. Last year or the year before, he was ordered by the city to take down the display. Mr. Williams' house of lights was featured on a Bud Light commercial last Christmas.

When is enough an enough?


Another singing house!

My Favorite Holiday Movies

When the holidays begin to approach, I am gearing up to watch my favorite movies. Besides Christmas, we have a tradition of watching certain movies for Thanksgiving and New Year's.

Our Thanksgiving movie is Plane, Trains, & Automobiles with John Candy & Steve Martin



Our New Year's Day movie is Poseidon Adventure with Gene Hackman & Shelly Winters


My favorite Christmas movies are pretty traditional. I would have to say that The Christmas Story with Ralphie is my all time favorite. My other favorites are It's a Wonderful Life, and Rudolph.

Another one of my favorites is a made for TV movie called One Special Night with Julie Andrews & James Gardener. If you have never seen this movie, make sure to this season!! It is such a good, heartwarming movie!


Whar are some of your holiday favorites???

Folgers: Chirstmas Morning

Here's a little of something to get you in the Christmas Spirit!



This is one of my all time favorite Christmas commercials! The little girl in the commercial is probably about 28 now, it was made about 23 years ago. I think I saw it on TV last year or the year before. Folgers sure got their money's worth!!

"Peter" went on to do a bunch of appearances in popular TV shows. His real name is Greg Wrangler. According to Folgers, they first aired the commercial in 1985(-1998). It was brought back by popular demand in 2004. For information about the other actors, Click Here.

Pixie & Dixie

This is one of the best cartoons ever! Jaiden loves to sit on my lap and watch Pixie and Dixie on the computer. It's a special treat!

Tape Cassette Purse

A BIG THANKS to Tami Walker for allowing me to post her video on my blog! Be sure to check out her site BoxyQueens and her other You Tube Videos