He Loves Me

Happy Valentine's Day!

I've always thought that Valentine's Day must be one of the most feared days of the year for the average American Guy. Boy, is he under the gun! If he doesn't come through with something creative, thoughtful, romantic, different, and expensive for his girl he could be in deep doggy doo-doo.

I let my husband off that particular hook years ago.

I don't need flowers or stuffed rabbits or chocolates (in fact, he's been strictly forbidden to bring home chocolates for any reason). I don't even need a card.

Instead I try to pay attention to the little things he does every day of the year. Filling the car with gas so I don't have to. Complimenting me on a dinner I made. Telling me he thinks I'm smart. Bringing me coffee in the morning. Vacuuming. Letting me know he finds me attractive. Washing my car. Handling the bookkeeping for my little biz. Doing the grocery shopping and always buying plenty of the stuff that he knows I like.

On special occasions, if there's something I want to buy or to do, all I have to do is tell him. He's always more than willing to comply; after all, he didn't have to come up with the idea on his own and that takes a huge burden off of him. And I get exactly what I want.

I hadn't mentioned Valentine's Day at all this year, knowing he has to work this weekend. Of course, I'd rather he didn't have to work and we could spend the day together but it is what it is, and the extra-long hours he's working will finance our July trip to Kauai for my sister's wedding.

So I was surprised this morning at breakfast when, over bowls of oatmeal, he offered dinner out once his current contract is done (in two weeks or so) as a "late Valentine's Day out."

Now that's all the more special because it was unexpected.

And guess what? We'll be able use a coupon at Black Angus for a Prime Rib 4-course dinner for two for only $37.00 and which is NOT valid on Valentine's Day. Black Angus just happens to be the restaurant where Mike proposed to me 19 years ago.

Meanwhile, tomorrow evening I'll be perfectly content to have a quiet supper of salad and a bowl of tomato bisque soup.

Tomato bisque soup from one of the dozen cans that Mike bought for me because he loves me and he knows it's my favorite.

What's more romantic than that?

What are YOU doing for Valentine's Day?

First Christmas for the Newlyweds . . .

. . . and we were there!
Dianna and Rodrigo in front of their first Christmas tree, in their little house in Oxnard, CA. It was fun spending a few nights there; we were the first ones to use their guest room so Mike and I felt quite honored. We had a super-comfy bed with thick comforters and we were toasty warm every night in spite of the cold snap that had hit southern Cali with a vengeance.
This is the cross-stitch wedding record that I made for them. It was a lot of work, and there were a few technical difficulties because I made some modifications in the pattern and kit, but I worked them out, and I think it turned out real nice.

Here's my fave gift:
Rodrigo and Dianna gave me (among other things) a cashmere sweater and, can you believe it at my age, it's my FIRST cashmere anything! Love the color, one of my favorites, burgundy - YUM. This will be a treat to wear. You can see how super-soft it is!

The "kids" have three cats. Two are identical solid black female kittens, about 6 months old or so, Meeka and Maddy. They are nearly impossible to tell apart. Here they are playing in a pop-up cube that Mike and I brought to them:
They love it! Pancho, the third cat, likes it, too, but he's a bit older (and more dignified) and preferred spending most of his time in our laps:
Isn't he awesome? Of course, I do have a soft spot for orange male tabbies, dontcha know. He has a curly tail, too, of which this picture doesn't do justice. It curls right up over his back just like a Norwegian Elkhound! I've never seen anything like it on a cat before. I really think he should be in the movies.

We opened our gifts on Christmas Eve because Dianna had to go to work early on Christmas Day, but Rodrigo was a great host and made us a fabulous Christmas morning breakfast; cinnamon french toast, hash brown potatoes, a fancy egg scramble, and french-pressed coffee.
What a guy!
I did the dishes - in my pajamas, of course!

Oy, I've been tagged -- sort of!

I was reading the blogs on my bloglines and came across one that had a meme on it and when I got to the end of the blog posting it said, "if you've reached number 25, consider yourself tagged!"

Ok, so I did read the whole thing so, obviously, I thought it was worth reading....so here it is, with MY answers. But I'm not going to tag anyone. If you want to do it, then Yuletide Cool; if not, that's fine, too.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I LOVE wrapping paper, ribbons, AND gift tags!

2. Real tree or artificial? Artificial. We were given an artificial tree by my sister, Denise, who said that when she and her husband put up this artificial tree for the first time they had a horrible fight (it was hard to figure out the directions) and they vowed to never put it up again, so they gave it to us. We love it, and have used it every year for the past 3 or 4 years.

3. When do you put up your tree? It varies a lot. Sometimes early in December; one year when we were still buying fresh trees and the boys were with us and we had just moved we didn't get a tree until Christmas Eve. I like to put up our artificial tree as early as possible, to enjoy it the longest.

4. Do you like eggnog? NO. But my husband and both my boys DO! So I'm the odd person out.

5. Favorite gift received as a child? A hand-sewn teddy bear with button eyes that I named Christopher. I will never forget him! I was about 8 or 9 and I will love him forever. My mom bought him at a church bazaar.

6. Worst christmas gift ever received? I can't think of one that I didn't like.....!

7. Hardest person to buy for? My husband. He just doesn't need anything, and he never seems to WANT anything either!

8. Easiest person to buy for? My parents; I love to think of something extra special for them!

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Amazingly, no. I need to rectify that because I love the whole story of the Savior in the humble Manger.

10. Mail or email christmas cards? MAIL!!! Even if we email and/or text each other all through the year, a Christmas card must be something you can hold in your hands and see your friends or family member's handwriting, and know they took precious time out of their busy lives to write it and send it. It is so much more meaningful, like spending time with someone as opposed to just sending a gift.

11. Favorite christmas movie? Hands-down: "It's a Wonderful Life." It's not Christmas without it!

12. When do you start christmas shopping? That varies a lot. One year I actually started in July! ONE year! Usually I start handmade gifts in September, and I start buying gifts in November. It's always a rush. I love to go out and find the perfect gift for people; it's an unfortunate fact of life that the process is usually rushed; that's why I prefer birthdays for gifts!

13. Have you ever recycled a christmas present? No.

14. Favorite thing to eat at christmas? I have to say chocolate-covered cherries. Since they were small, my boys always got me a box at Christmas because they know how much I love them. I still do!

15. Lights on the tree? Absolutely!! We always put lights on our tree. I love to turn off all the lights in the house and just enjoy the lights on the tree, and the fireplace.

16. Favorite christmas song? "Little Drummer Boy." I also love "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day."

17. Travel or stay home? I love to be at home, but will travel in special circumstances, like this year we have been invited by our older son and his new bride to spend Christmas in their home. Can't pass that up!

18. Can you name all of santa's reindeer? Of course, can't everyone??? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen!

19. Angel or star? I prefer Angel, but we have a star; must do something about that this year!

20. Open presents christmas morning or eve? Always in the morning. When the boys were small they always got jammies, which they opened Christmas Eve and wore that night. I miss those days!

21. Favorite ornament theme or color? We like green and white, or blue and white, on our house. I like all-white lights on the tree because it reminds me of snow. I don't have a favorite ornament theme, unless you consider hodge-podge, whatever-the-boys-made-when-they-were-little a Theme!

22. Favorite place for christmas dinner? Wherever my Family is.

23. Most annoying thing about this time of year? I hate getting caught up in the advertisers' web of you-must-buy-this-or-your-recipient-won't-be-happy trap. Christmas is about spending time together, reconnecting with loved ones, and I hope (especially this year) we can remember that.

24. What do you want for christmas this year? I already bought some "holiday clothes," so I don't need anything more. I want everyone in my family to be happy and content with their lives, as I am.