Christmas is over, Bring out yer dead!

If you haven't seen Monty Python's Holy Grail, then you may not understand the title. However, you will soon see that Santa is indeed dead---killed by my dear, sweet, loving dog, Ruby. Now, I completely understand that doggies don't go to hell.....their owners do. And especially owners who document their doggie's bad behavior and post it for public enjoyment. And I do hereby fully accept the consequences of the following pictures. :)









And just in case you are still holding out hope for my Santa salvation..........................





ALAS, BRING OUT 'YER DEAD!

Our home for the Holidays!

Merry Christmas. We hope you got our Christmas card and are coming to visit our site to see what's happened in 2008. And if you didn't get a Christmas card, uh, er, it's in the mail! Check out the right-hand side for each month's events. We have been very happy and blessed this year. We wish each of you the best!

Descriptions of the pictures:
1. Our beloved home, in it's full Christmas glory.
2. Yes, that is a leg lamp in the front window.And yes, my dear Hubbie made it himself.
3. Our Christmas tree room (aka Living room)
4. The Christmas spirit spewed it's "cheer" all through the great room/kitchen.
5. Notice that even little Ruby (dog) has a stocking in the lower right corner of the pic.
6. Oh, believe me. The garland goes all the way up those stairs -36 feet of it.
7. Even the master bedroom has a holiday pillow---ok, not really but it's red, at least.
8. The master bath/garden tub-needs no holiday decor. My favorite spot all year-round so it couldn't be left out of the holiday home tour.
9. The guestroom whose sole job is to hold the all-important leg lamp.
10. And, last but not least, the guest bath where a person could find respite from the Christmas overkill.

Getting ready for Christmas

This being our first Christmas in the new house, we decided to go all out. The decorating commenced with the exterior. First, the lights. Now, our roof has quite the steep pitch, we are talking like 30 feet. So, my dear husband and friend Tracy risked their lives to put up the lights. I was ready with the camera to document any broken bones, or death.


















Of course, I was willing to do my part..... on the ground. We lined our driveway with these wreaths and lanterns. Put up lots of garland, lights and wreaths, little pine trees.....and that's just the outside!














The inside was more up my alley. It was warm and toasty and only involved minimal falling hazards.

















Well, I say minimal, but then take a look at my official "safety footwear" as I hang the kitchen garland.















After all is said and done, I must say that the Griswolds* have nothing on us Lochers.


*No, the "Griswolds" is not some tradmarked name but just in case you are lame and missed the reference, you need to immediately see "National Lampoon's Chrtistmas Vacation".

Let it snow!

Everyone 'round here is so glad that we finally got snow. It's only a month and a half late and just didn't feel like Christmas at 50 degrees. But what a wonderous reminder of the pure joy of shoveling snow, icey roads, slow traffic, and being cold, wet and soggy! Oh, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

Being the good wifey that I am, I decided that I would surprise my hubbie by clearing the sidewalks and driveway. Now, keep in mind that I am a firm beliver that this is "man's" work. (I know, I know. Women's lib, be damned!) (Oh, and I hope my husband doesn't see this post.) But,'tis the season and all that. So I busted out the snowblower, thinking, "how hard could it be?" I don't know, you tell me:




OK, OK. we were just kidding around. You can tell that I already cleared the driveway but my little brother Benny came over and we started to clown around. There is always goofing around to be done when Benny comes around. That boy can make me laugh. It was the most fun I have ever had (and will ever have) "shoveling" snow.

A Dog's Life

This is Ruby's idea of a perfect Sunday morning......

Stretching out on the couch, watching TV and chillin' with her Best Friend.

Bowling & being rock stars

Ok, so perhaps you don't associate bowling with rock stars but let me tell you, the way we bowled and danced and ate and drank was most definately a party of Rock-Star proportions. (Ok, so maybe I am trying to be more glamorous than I am but it was super fun, anyway) We traveled to San Jose (just outside of San Fransisco) for my friend Melinda's (Meli) Bday.
We had the whole end of the bowling alley with a buffet of food and waiters just ready to replenish the food. There was a huge group of us, like 30? and we had such a good time. What a great way to celebrate Meli's Bday.

Brad's bowling form and my Bowling form. Hmmm, is it a wonder I rarely break 50? (I think I fell on my hiney right after this roll)

Yes, folks. What you see here is a "strike" on my score sheet. A strike that the computer gave me as a freebie, but a strike, nonetheless.

These are the cute friends that we bowled with, our new BFF's, from left to right, Meli, Krystal, Erica and 'D' on top. They were such a hoot!!

And there is always some time for a little PDA with my hubbie. In all likelihood, he may have been picking me up off the ground after my truley astounding bowling form








And last, but not least, the whole reason for going to the party in the first place, Meli's BDay and BDay presents. I made her this cute kitchen apron which she wore the whole rest of the night. Gee, I hope she liked it.


BIRTHDAYS, BOWLING and BFF's! What fun!

I've been tagged......apparently

The rules:
1. Link to person who has tagged you: Darla (ya, I'm proud that I figured out how to link to Darla.)
2. Post the rules on your blog
3. Write 6 random things about yourself
4. Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog

So, here goes.
1) I have an odd fascination with magic, and witchs, in general. I blame this on my great, great, great, great aunt Rebekah Warren who was burned at the stake in Salem for being a witch. Yes, she is the same Rebekah in the book, "the Crucible".
2) Books, books, books, books and particularly novels. I can not get enough to read. In fact, one of my favorite new books is "Garden Spells" which is, of course, about magic and witchcraft.
3) At heart, I may have a little geek in me. I love doing financial stuff and accounting. Please, please keep this quiet. I mus'nt ruin my ditzy image.
4) My make-up is tattooed on. Yup, eyebrows, eyeliner (ouch) and lips. I will give full credit to my little sis who is a Permanent Cosmetics Sepcialist.
5) I make soup that is to die for.
6) I listen to "Docotor Radio" on satellite radio and thoroughly enjoy it. AND, it doesn't give me a complex about new diseases I may have. Actually, it makes me realize how very sane I am, comparatively speaking.

Ok, I tag Kim, Stephanie, Emily, Diane, Deb and Christina. Mostly because those are the only people who I know have a blog.