Flaming Christmas Pudding!

While reading over the answers in the Monday Morning Question I realized that there were a lot of foods that were unfamiliar to me.  Perhaps they are unfamiliar to some of you also.  Well, you Americans, anyway, lol.  So I asked for definitions and this is the answers that I received:

From Amy: 

I can't believe you don't have these things in america! You are missing out on so much!   Ok....it might be hard to explain some of them....  

Yorkshire Pudding: It's made from batter (like you use to make pancakes) but is poured in to little tins (a bit like a muffin tin) filled with hot oil and cooked in the oven. The rise up and are traditionally served with roast beef over here. sometimes people cook them in a big tin instead of the individual tins and then cut it into slices.  

http://www.britainexpress.com/articles/Food/yorkshire-pudding.htm  

Trifle: it's a dessert....it's a layer of jelly (jello) usually strawberry...sometimes with bits of cake in it. Then a layer of custard that is set so it's all wobbley! Then topped with a layer of cream and finished with sprinkles. Some people add sherry to the jelly bit of the trifle too.  

http://www.recipesource.com/desserts/trifle/authentic-english1.html  

Chocolate Gateau: yum! It's basically a huge chocolate cake that is REALLY chocolatey and made with chocolate cream and stuff....yummy!  

http://www.ivillage.co.uk/food/tools/recipefinder/display_recipe/0,,4187,00.html  

Christmas Pudding: Hmm.....here is a web site with a recipe and picture:  

http://www.britischebotschaft.de/advent/advent_e7.htm  

it's usually a steamed pudding that is very rich and stodgey (we like our stodgey puddings over here!). It has rasins and sultanas and lots of spices like cinnamon and nutmeg so it's all christmassy. Traditionally served on fire! Well, they set fire to the brandy and then pour the flaming brandy over the pudding. In the old days people used to bake them with a sixpence inside and who ever got the sixpence was lucky!  

From Jules:  

Swede:  swede is like turnip, it's from the same family and has a very strong taste.  

From Sara:  

Chipolata Sausages: chipolata sausages are just little cocktail sausages, we have them wrapped in bacon at Christmastime - Mmmm.  Here let me show you:

 

                                    

 

Now to find out about pheasant (if you dare!) and purple sprouting and a few more things, visit Sylvia's journal.   Thank you everyone from the UK who have taught me about new culinary delights.  If there are any American foods that you would like to know about, please ask!  

Love, Krissy

Canceled Again

We are going to have to cancel this week's Photo Scavenger Hunt one more time.  One reason is because Saturday falls on New Year's Day and I am sure you all will be doing something important on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.  The other reason is John is going through some minor health problems and I want to be there for him.  We will definately have a Scavenger Hunt the following week though. 

Hope everybody is enjoying the Holiday Season.  Love, Krissy

Monday Morning Question

Monday Morning Question:

What did you have for your Christmas dinner?

John and I went to Val's and Chelsea's to eat.  They served us a dinner of turkey, cornbread stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, macaroni and cheese, green beans, mandarin oranges, pineapple, cheese and crackers, pickles, and Christmas cookies!  It was beyond delicious!  Thanks ladies!

What did you have?

My Ring!

Today was a great day.  I went looking at rings and chose one with the help of John and my sister Valerie.  It is the most beautiful ring I have ever seen!  It is tanzanite flanked by diamonds.  It's white gold.  I am going to get it in ten days because they need to size it for me.  I am so excited!  I can't wait until it is on my finger!  

I have really enjoyed yesterday and today, and will enjoy the next two days also.  Four days with no appointments or anywhere I absolutely have to go!  I am having so much fun with my free time and relaxing.  I am so glad I got my Christmas stuff done early.  I am going to have fun tomorrow spending Christmas Eve with John and we will go to midnight Mass.  Then on Christmas day we will spend Christmas morning together and then go to Valerie's and Chelsea's in the afternoon for Christmas dinner and fun!  I am really excited about that.  

Hope everyone else is having a good Christmas season also!  Love, Krissy

Wedding Date

I have really good news today.  I have a date for my wedding.  It is May 7th!  What is so exciting about that is normally my church makes you wait nine months to get married.  But my priest called me today and said I could get married on May 7th.  I guess the fact that John and I have been dating for over six years might have had something to do with it, I don't know!  Anyway, I am so excited!

I have already been planning away of course, with the help of my parents, because time is already short!  It is actually fun.  Of course with fun comes, uhm, I don't know if it is called stress or what it is called.  I told myself that I was never going to be one of those crazy brides-to-be.  So I will just relax and enjoy this time and not go kooky like my parents suggest, lol.  I will just enjoy this time, and enjoy my special day when it comes.  

Well, I am really happy this Christmas season.  Tomorrow I am going to go ring shopping!

Love, Krissy 

Having Fun

The past couple of days have been so much fun!  Yesterday John and I cooked a turkey with all the trimmings and invited a couple of guests over.  We had a wonderful evening of talk and all around fun.  I am glad I got everything done including my shopping because now I have really had a chance to enjoy myself and do some fun things.

Today was really nice too.  We went to Valerie's house and helped Valerie and Chelsea decorate their Christmas tree.  It made me think of my childhood.  The tree was gorgeous! 

The only crazy part was when Chelsea was making dinner for a friend and we smelled something burning and the smoke detector went off.  We ran to the kitchen and lo and behold she had torched the George Forman grill.  Well I don't know if she torched it completely but I don't know if it works anymore.  It was sitting on the stove and she turned on the wrong burner.  Oh well, at least nobody got hurt. 

She probably won't like that I wrote about that, lol!

Well, I have to get off here and get under the blankets.  With windchill it is 30 degrees below zero.  I have a hat and scarf on right now!  I did well not complaining about the cold all day, actually all year so far.  But today after the sun went down, it finally got too cold for me.  I think I need to go get warm.  Try to stay warm everybody!  Krissy  

Monday Morning Question

Monday Morning Question:

What is the most exotic food you have ever eaten? 

My answer:  Escargot.  In English that's snails.  And they were gross.  I'll never do it again.

Extra credit question:  Do you like fruit cake?  

My answer:  Yes!  

 

This Week's Hunt Cancelled

This week we will not have a Photo Scavenger Hunt because  Christmas falls on Saturday.  Sunday, the day after Christmas, I will post a new subject for the following Saturday's hunt.

 

Entries for Scavenger Hunt #11

Entries for Photo Scavenger Hunt #11:

Your Computer Area Before and After Cleaning It:

labdancer51

ryanagi

chasferris

quartrlyfecrysis

silviam4000

promiseluv372

sarajanesmiles

jules19642001

fisherkristina

bookncoffee  (take a look at her cool transportation!)

Sorry folks that this was posted late this week.  I thought this was Saturday night and it turned out to be Sunday night, lol!  I hope everyone enjoyed seeing where each other works and plays!  Love, Krissy

Photo Scavenger Hunt #11

In this week's hunt we are supposed to show our computer area before and after cleaning it.

Here is my computer area.  What you see is what you get.  I didn't want to take two pictures so this is the messy version.  Well, I did dust.  The stack of papers is there, but that is not messy because, hey, I know what is in my organized piles of papers!  

Christmas Cards

Well I stayed up tonight doing Christmas cards.  Started out early and here it is 3:45 AM!  Boy will I be tired tomorrow!

I have really been enjoying this Christmas season.  I have gotten my Christmas shopping done.  I finished it up today.  I am finishing up my cards.  I should have them done by tomorrow and should have my shipping out.  Then I can relax. 

I am going to take some time out and just have a good time and maybe go out with friends.  That should be fun.  I haven't done that in a long time.  I haven't felt well enough mentally or physically.

Things are really nice this Christmas.  My depression is way down.    And I have dropped weight since I started my thyroid medication.  And being engaged has been just dreamy.

I can't believe how much I have neglected my journal.  I haven't written to many daily entries.  I have been tremendously busy.  I want to write more entries but sometimes I feel like I am the most boring person in the world, lol.  

Well, I need to get off to bed.  I hope everyone is enjoying this time of year too.

Love, Krissy  

Monday Morning Question

Monday Morning Question

(Sorry this is a few hours late, I thought today was Sunday, lol):

What is the worst physical pain you have ever been in?

My Answer:  Probably back pain from fibromyalgia.  Actually, allover pain from fibromyalgia

What about you? 

 

This Week's Hunt

This week's Photo Scavenger Hunt (#11) should be completed by Saturday, Dec. 18, at 8 PM EST.

This week will be another easy one because it is Christmastime.  The idea comes from Chuck.  He wants us to take a picture of our computer area.  Actually two pictures.  One before we clean it and one after!  Come on, be brave!

A photo of your computer area before cleaning it!

A photo of your computer area after cleaning it.

Entries for Scavenger Hunt #10

Entries for Photo Scavenger Hunt #10:

Show us your Mode Of Transportation:

sarajanesmiles

promiseluv372 

kkasey47

chasferris

sonensmilinmon

jules19642001

sylviam4000

quartrlyfecrysis

levi1023

And from last week, check out madmanadhd's entry to see his geometric shapes.  This week he doesn't have a transportation entry, but has done something very special in his journal today, his very first photo collage.  We had better go check it out! 

From a previous assignment, shedtheshellnow tells us that she is thankful for the memories in her attic. 

And finally, if you haven't spotted my entry out yet, it is at fisherkristina.

Thanks to all who participated this week.  Everybody had a fabulous entry! 

Photo Scavenger Hunt #10

In this week's hunt we are supposed to show our mode of transportation. 

Here's the car I drive.

It's a Toyota Camry.  I think it is just fabulous.

List your link here

If you haven't already given me your link for today's Photo Scavenger Hunt, then list yours in the comments section.

Thanks!

Good News!

 

He asked me...He asked me...He asked me...and I said yes!

Last night John asked me to marry him!  I am so excited.  It was a very romantic proposal.  He got down on one knee.  We were at my house in my living room.  I was a little surprised when he asked me so I just blurted out "Sure!" to his question, lol.  

Engaged.  What a lovely sounding word!

What else is new?  Like I need something else to be new!  I am feeling SO much better these days now that I started the synthroid.  It is working wonders for my health and my depression.  I still get tired some, and a little depressed some, but I am doing SO much better.  And I am losing some weight already!  

Also, I have almost finished with my Christmas shopping!  I even went out and shopped on Black Friday!  I have never been this far ahead for Christmas shopping.

What else is new?  Tomorrow I have a Carmelite meeting and two Christmas parties!  Tonight John and I have to spear olives and little pieces of cheese onto party tooth picks!  That should be fun.  I figured that would be easier than baking casseroles or desserts.

Bye for now and love you all, Krissy :-)     

Monday Morning Question

Monday Morning Question:

What is your favorite Christmas song?

My favorite is Joy To The World. 

What is yours?

This Week's Hunt

This week's Photo Scavenger Hunt (#10) should be completed by Saturday, Dec. 11, at 8 PM EST. 

This week is going to be easy because I am taking into consideration that it's the holiday season and we are all getting ready and are busy.   My sister Therese came up with the idea that we all take a photo of our mode of transportation.  This is one that everyone can participate in!  Let us see what each other drives or rides in!

Your Mode of Transportation

Entries for Scavenger Hunt #9

Entries for Photo Scavenger Hunt #9:

Geometric Shapes

sarajanesmiles

quartrlyfecrysis

sylviam4000

valphish

sonensmilinmon

kkasey47

chasferris

fisherkristina

Photo Scavenger Hunt #9

This week's hunt is Geometric Shapes. 

My first picture is of globular objects.  They also double as cat balls.

 

My second photo is a septilateral figure.  A septilateral figure is a seven sided object.  I found that my boyfriend's medminder was  perfectly septilateral .  No, we didn't know the name for it!  We had to look up the kind of geometric shape it was in the dictionary.

Hope you enjoyed my entry even though it was short!

List your link here

If you haven't already given me your link for the current Photo Scavenger Hunt, then list yours in the comments section.

Thank you!

 

December's Here!

I'm so excited!  It is December.  I love this time of year.  I get so excited around Christmastime! 

Today was a good first day of December.  Last month I had a really bad month because I was dealing with a lot of depression.  I still am, but today at least I got a piece of the puzzle of why I haven't been feeling well physically and mentally.  Lately I have been depressed, sluggish, sleeping alot, and gaining a lot of weight.  Like major weight.  Let me tell you my day's discovery.  I was waiting for my therapist this morning when my doctor came in and pulled me aside.  She had recently run a bunch of tests on me.  She told me that my thyroid was off, and she believed that this was most likely the cause of my recent increase in depression.  I went in and talked to my therapist about it.  She said that a low thyroid problem was what they believed caused my recent exacerbation in my depression, my recent weight gain, and even probably my recent OCD symptoms. 

You may think I am strange to be glad that I know I have a thyroid problem, but I am just excited that I have a name for my illness, and know what it is, so I can know how to treat it.  

My doctor wrote me a prescription.  I am excited.  It is supposed to help with the depression and weight gain!  Yay!

Well, I need to go now.  I have had a long day.  I started out this morning going over to Valerie and Chelsea's.  Chels made us a delicious lunch of Chicken Alfredo.  She also showed us her kitten.  He is one of the cutest kittens I have ever seen in my life!  And spunky.  And bright.  If you stick out your tongue or wink at him he does it back - he copies you!  And at only one month old.  You may think I am making this up or am daft, but I promise you it is true. 

Must go, much love, Krissy

A Couple More Photo Entries

Here are a couple more Photo Scavenger Hunt entries from last week's Photo Scavenger Hunt:

madmanadhd

alphawoman1

Monday Morning Question

Monday Morning Question:

What is your favorite sitcom that is shown on Nick At Nite or TV Land?  Translation for those of you in the UK:  What is your favorite TV situation comedy from the 60s through the 80s? 

My favorite is the Odd Couple.  It starred Jack Klugman and Tony Randall. 

What is yours? 

The Next Photo Scavenger Hunt

This week's Photo Scavenger Hunt (#9) should be completed by Saturday, Dec. 4, at 8 PM EST.  The subject this week was chosen by Valerie of Val's Thought's.  It is:

Geometric Shapes (circles, triangles, squares, etc.)

Happy picture taking!  

Entries for Scavenger Hunt #8

Entries for Photo Scavenger Hunt #8:

Thanksgiving or
What I am thankful for

hope4meeeee and entry after it

sarajanesmiles

sonensmilinmon

sylviam4000

beccihouse

quartrlyfecrysis

jules19642001

fisherkristina 

Thanks for participating even though it was a holiday weekend!

Photo Scavenger Hunt #8

Thanksgiving

I was going to put a lot of Thanksgiving pics in here and show you my feast.  John and I made and served up chicken, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, candied yams, brussels sprouts, whole cranberry sauce, manderin oranges, and black olives.  Those last two you just have to understand, they are family favorites!  Valerie came over bearing gifts of chocolate and stuffed animals!  

I was too tired so I never broke out the camera.  The next day John was eating pumpkin pie.  I told him about how I never got my photos and begged him to let me photograph him while he was eating his pie.  To my surprise he said yes!  So this is a photo of John eating his Thanksgiving pie and drinking his coffee, lol.

List your link here

If you haven't already given me your link for the current Photo Scavenger Hunt, then list yours in the comments section. 

Thanks!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!  I hope you and yours are having a great one.  

I know I am.  I have already started to cook.  John has come over to help already.  My sister Valerie will be over later to eat with us.  It will just be the three of us this year but sometimes a small intimate group is nice!  

John and I will be cooking chicken this year.  That is right, chicken!  I thought it would be easier, and I want to take it easy this year.  Chicken, chicken stuffing, and chicken gravy.  Not that I don't have a turkey.  I have three!

I was given two turkeys because I am, well, poor.  You can call it low income, but I call it poor.  And then the third I got because I earned enough points shopping at Giant.  So they said to go pick out a turkey at the back of the store.  John and I went back there.  We had a choice of two brands.  I remember doing this last year and the birds were like 12 lbs. each.  This year I went to pick one out and all of the turkeys were giant!  All of them!  John looked around and pointed to one.  "How about this one", he asked?  I looked at it in shock.  "What, are you trying to get the largest one?"  "No," he said, "this is the smallest one here."  I looked at it.  It was 18.01 pounds! 

So now I will have a lot of turkey for the winter.  That is good because it stays frozen for six months and then after you cook it you can refreeze it for another three months.  This will save on my food bill this year. 

Well, I better get off here.  I need to get back to my cooking.  And I haven't eaten breakfast yet.  John came over this morning just to cook me breakfast and to help with the cooking!  He is such a sweetheart!  He is making bacon and eggs!  

Everybody have a fantastic Thanksgiving.  Love you all.     

Monday Morning Question

Monday Morning Question:

What kind of breakfast cereal do you eat?  If you don't eat cereal what do you eat for breakfast?

I eat grits with a little butter and salt and pepper!  Yum yum!  Sorry my fellow Pennsylvanians but I did grow up down south.  No matter what you say grits are delicious!  When I am not eating grits I eat leftovers, because I can't stand most breakfast cereals.

How about you? 

The Next Photo Scavenger Hunt

This week's Photo Scavenger Hunt (#8) should be completed by Saturday, Nov.27, at 8 PM.  You can choose from two topics this week:

Thanksgiving  or
What I am thankful for

I am trying to make it easy this week because I know a lot of you will be doing holiday things, and I was thinking you could snap some pictures of your Thanksgiving and share it with us.  Or for those of you who are not big into celebrating the holiday, I thought the second topic was nice.  My sister Val thought it up actually!  She said it was especially for those in the UK who didn't celebrate Thanksgiving.  I asked her why not, and she explained it to me that it was just our holiday, you know, pilgrims and Indians sharing, and I thought, duhhhhh!  I felt really stupid, lol.  Anyway, I hope a lot of you participate this week even though you will be busy with your family and the holidays.  Happy picture taking and have a wonderful holiday!

Krissy :-)

Entries for Scavenger Hunt #7

Entries for Photo Scavenger Hunt #7:
Something Abandoned

alphawoman1

kkasey47

sonensmilinmon

firestormkids04

sylviam4000

hope4meeeee

quartrlyfecrysis (Abandoned) and quartrlyfecrysis (A Portrait...)

chasferris

theresemshaffer (all six entries)

cneinhorn

fisherkristina

sarajanesmiles

boiseladie  (A face, a landscape, far away, and close up)

If I left anyone out PLEASE let me know.  And thank you to all you new players!  This was really fun this week.  There were some fantastic entries!  :-)  Krissy

List your link here

If you haven't already given me your link for the current Photo Scavenger Hunt, then list yours in the comments section.

Thanks!

Photo Scavenger Hunt #7

Something Abandoned

This is an abandoned barn.  Below is the inside of the barn.

All around Central PA, where ever you drive, you see abandoned barns and houses.  It is interesting to look at them and wonder what they used to be used for or who used to live in them.

Hope you enjoyed my photos! 

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Where I live, it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas.  I am so excited!  I went down town two or three weeks ago and the borough trees were decked out in classy white lights.  Usually after the lights follows banners around town that say things like Peace and Joy and Happy Holidays.  It is cheery in this town when the Christmas lights go up, and they stay up until May or June the following year!  

I was also driving to Val's town and they had gorgeous white lights wrapped around poles.  Very classy in her quaint town.  And another town John and I were driving through had tinsel red and white candy canes strapped to poles.  Not exactly classy, but fun!  Then there were the personal decorations in people's yards.  Some of them were kind of funny.  In the town with the candy canes the people are very poor.  But they spent their money on Christmas decorations.  One of the reasons they were funny is because some of the people still have Thanksgiving decorations up but have Christmas decorations mixed in with them too!  

Now some of you may think bah hum bug.  Christmas is all commercialism.  But I don't think so.  I love Christmas.  I think in my town that the lights are not going up early to draw in shoppers.  There are not even very many shops at that end of town.  No department stores.  We are just celebrating because we love the spirit of Christmas and love being nice to one another.  Everybody is so nice to one another at Christmastime.  I am not saying that everybody doesn't get into the big gift buying thing after Christmas, but everybody is so nice to each other too.  I am really looking forward to this time of year!

Hope you all are too.     

Some More Photo Entries

Here are a few more Photo Scavenger Hunt entries:

sonensmilinmon (Up Close)

levi1023 (A Face, A Landscape, Far Away, Close Up)

jules19642001 (Love) 

Monday Morning Question

Monday Morning Question:

What is your favorite city that you've traveled to?  Why?

Mine is Long Beach, North Carolina.  I went there about two years ago to visit my Uncle and Aunt.  I love the beach and could have picked other beaches, but this is the first beach that I have been to that has palm trees!  I just love palm trees!  And I just love the beautiful surroundings at this beach.  Plus I love the company!  Hello Uncle Gene! 

What's your favorite city and why?

The Next Photo Scavenger Hunt

This week's Photo Scavenger Hunt (#7) should be completed by Saturday, Nov. 20, at 8 PM.  The subject is:

Something Abandoned          

You can take just one photo, or more if you'd like.  Have fun!

Entries for Photo Scavenger Hunt #6

Entries for Photo Scavenger Hunt #6:  A Face, A Landscape, Something far away, and Something close up

kkasey47 

cneinhorn

beccihouse22285

wildirisheyes

valphish

sylviam4000

gramroni 

sarajanesmiles

fisherkristina

Photo Scavenger Hunt #6

A portrait, a landscape, something far away, and something close up.

A Portrait:

This is a photo of Yours Truly.  Nobody was visiting and I wanted a photo of someone, so I took a picture of myself in the mirror.  It came out a little dark but I think it looks kind of cool.

Next is a picture of my landscape.  

I guess this is more trees than it is land!  John and I drove around all day trying to find a nice landscape picture but never got a good one because it wouldn't stop raining long enough to take a photograph whenever I got the subject I wanted.  So when there was a break in the rain I took these woods at a state park.  I really like them. 

Here is the photo I took for something Far Away:

On first glance you might think this is a close up picture, but I am trying to highlight the trees across the lake.  I think the brown grass in the foreground only serves to better show off the faraway trees. 

For my close up photo I chose a stump.  I did this because I thought it looked beautiful.  Nothing more needs to be said about it. 

 

Hope you enjoyed the photos! Krissy.

List your link here

If you haven't already given me your link for the latest Photo Scavenger Hunt, then list yours in the comments section.

Thanks, Krissy

Feeling Better

I've had a really good couple of days.  John and I have spent a lot of time together.  Last night we went and saw the movie "Shall We Dance".  I really enjoyed it.  We also caught dinner.  A real date night.  Haven't done that in awhile.  When you are a couple you can fall into a routine and forget to go out on "real dates" sometimes.  You just start taking each other for granted.  

It's also fun to just be hanging around at my house doing the little mundane things.  John came over this morning and we had glazed sour cream donuts.  Nothing like a breakfast of hot coffee and sour cream donuts.  The funny thing is that Michael was begging me for a donut and to show him that he wouldn't like it I threw him down a chunk, just so he would leave me alone.  And he ate it!  So I gave him a few more pieces.  I am a bad Mommy!  He is now 22 lbs. and on a diet from table scraps and here I am giving him glazed donut chunks, and he is eating them!

Another really good thing about today is that I went and spoke with my priest.  I am feeling a lot better about a lot of the things that were bothering me.  A lot of the things had to do with me feeling like I was a bad person (that is what OCD in the form of Scrupulosity does to you) and he helped me to see that it wasn't true.  He made me realize that I am not this horrible sinner that I thought I was.  That is what scupulosity does, it lies to you and tells you you are a horrible sinner when you are not.  And you obsess about it relentlessly.  Of course as I have mentioned in previous entries OCD has a chemical basis to it, a brain chemistry basis, and I take medicine for it.  The priest said I would also need to use cognitive therapy and thought stopping processes.

After going to Mass and seeing Fr. George I went and looked for some Scavenger Hunt pictures.  It was extremely difficult as it started raining and then changed to snow.  It was freezing cold and I had John driving all around, lol.  He is such a trooper.  He will do anything for me.  I finally found some subjects to photograph, but they weren't the ones I truly wanted.  I wanted to get some better subjects, but was limited by the rain.  I could only snap shots when it was not raining and so that made my shots limited.  And I live in one of the most gorgeous areas.  Amish country!  So much for getting a nice landscape shot, lol.  

Tomorrow I am going to make my lifetime promises in the Secular Order of the Carmelites Discalced.  This of course deserves an entry all by itself, and I am going to do an entry, but it is getting late right now, and I want to be fresh in the morning.  I will have to do it tomorrow or the next day.  Probably on Sunday because on Saturday (tomorrow) the conference will be all day (8 am till 4 pm) and then I am going to come home and list everybody's Scavenger Hunt in my journal.  So I will be tired and will do the entry on Sunday or soon after, lol.  Suffice it to say that tomorrow is one of the most monumental days of my life.  

One final thing.  I have a very special friend who just started her journal today.  If you can, go on over and check her out and leave her a comment.  Silvia has a fascinating life and I am looking forward to her sharing it with us.  http://journals.aol.co.uk/sylviam4000/JottingsfromtheSticks

That's it for now.  Love and blessings!  Krissy

Odds and Ends

Just heard on the news that the longtime Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, died tonight at age 75.  Arafat never appointed a successor, and some have feared for the past few weeks that a struggle would ensue for leadership of Palestine, but fortunately the Palestinian government has decided to follow their law and appoint the speaker of the Parliament to govern for sixty days in interim.  After sixty days, elections are to occur, and whomever wins is to assume leadership.  

So, closer to the homefront - what is new?  Nothing much.  I am still having a pretty hard time in my life right now.  The situation I was hoping would work out has only gotten worse.  I guess I just need to be patient because there is nothing I can do about it.  I need to just be patient and leave it up to God.  There is something I can do something about though, and that is my thinking.  I need to think more positively.  Gee, that is hard sometimes! 

Well, I guess winter is finally here.  I put the heat on for the first time last night!  Yes, the landlord has finally turned the heat on!  Thank God for that.  The night before last it snow flurried.  Maybe I am a little down because I am just not used to the cold weather yet.  I better get used to it because it is here.  It makes me want to hole up in my house and not go outside! 

Well, this entry looks rather boring now that I am done with it, lol.  I just wanted to say one more thing.  Hello to Penny, my new J-land friend who I got to talk to on the IM.  It has been really nice chatting with you and let's do it lots more! 

Monday Morning Question

Monday Morning Question:

If you could have a career change right now, and do anything you wanted to, what would it be? 

My answer:  I can't work right now, because I am disabled, but if I could, well, there is at least ten things that I can think of that I would like to do.  But I am going to pick just one.  An ESL teacher.  Or something in the ESL field involving teaching English as a second language to people.  I did this in a volunteer capacity a number of years back and enjoyed it immensely.  It was extremely rewarding.

What would you choose to do?

Some More Photo Entries

Here are a few more Photo Scavenger Hunt entries:

Monica    Check out the entry below it also!

levi1023

g1itterkat 

Hope I didn't leave anyone out!  Let me know.

The Next Photo Scavenger Hunt

This week's Photo Scavenger Hunt (#6) should be completed by Saturday, Nov. 13, at 8 PM.  It was suggested by Sara.  Please take a photo of:

Someone's face, a Landscape, something close up, and something far away.

If you can do just one of the pics that is ok.  Have fun!

Your Entries for Photo Hunt #5

Entries for Photo Scavenger Hunt #5: What is Love?

beccihouse22285

abeator81

sarajanesmiles

chasferris

valphish

fisherkristina

kkasey47 (Love) and kkasey47 (Unusual)

Great entries this week everybody!

Photo Scavenger Hunt #5

What is Love?

The idea for this week's Photo Scavenger Hunt comes from Therese.

What is love?  To me love is many things.  It was hard to narrow this down to just a few things, but to me these were some of the things that most embodied love.

  Love is 46 years of ups and downs and just plain routine days and still staying together!  When I say ups and downs I mean way ups and way downs!  And six children and numerous grandchildren later.  Congratulations Mom and Dad on your upcoming Anniversary.  Love is... My Mom and Dad.

Love is... Unconditional.  Like the unconditional love Michael gives me.  It is so funny.  I can be grouchy and in a bad mood and he still loves me.  If I am in a bad mood he forgets ten minutes later.  He is the most forgiving creature I know on earth.  I can be in pagamas and have dirty hair and he doesn't care or judge me.  His love for me amazes me.  I love him so much and he loves me. 

And finally, but not lastly, love to me is my John.  He is beyond measure in my life.  He is more than wonderful to me.  Words cannot express what he means to me.  He loves me unconditionally.  He takes care of me.  He even does my dishes.  Love is John.

Now I don't have a pic, but I want to say that my ultimate love is Jesus, and He is ultimate love, for greater love has no man than this, than a man lay down His life for His friends.  And that to me is Ultimate Love.    

Love, Krissy   

List your link here

If you haven't already given me your link for the latest Photo Scavenger Hunt, then list yours in the comments section.

I need to go out for a few hours and want to give you a place to put your entry.

Thanks, Krissy

Having a Hard Time

Once again it has been a few days since I have written.  When I do that I am kind of avoiding.  Avoiding because I don't want to let anyone know what is going on in my life.  Well, there has not been a lot of anything going on.  And that is when I start thinking I should write about my feelings.  And then I really want to avoid that.  So I just stop writing.

So today I thought I would come on here anyway and write about my feelings and what is really going on inside of me.  I mean I can't let weeks go by and keep avoiding.  I guess I could but then I wouldn't be staying true to what I originally wanted to do with this journal.  So I will write about what has been going on inside of me.

I have gotten a few emails asking how I was doing.  Well I am stressed.  Majorly stressed.  Haven't been this stressed in a long time.  (Now Dad, when you read this don't start worrying because I have always been able to take care of myself.)  And I am frustrated.  Frustrated about some things in my life.  Some things that won't seem to change no matter what I do.  And full of anxiety.  I have OCD and I can't stop worrying either.  I don't know if you all know what OCD is, but I can't explain it right now.  You can look it up under Obsessive Compulsive Disorder if you'd like.  Mine lately has taken the form of obsessing and I can't stop worrying about the same things over and over again.  Back and forth in my brain.  I can't get more specific than that because I feel like I have laid myself bare and perhaps revealed too much already. 

Many say - Well, you have your faith, you should be OK.  Yes, my faith makes things infinitely better, but not perfect.  Because I am not perfect.  And because I have chemical imbalances that make me think certain ways.  And have certain moods.  And have anxiety.  But I am doing the best I can.

So now you all know how I am doing.  And I am going to press the send button now. 

It's Official Now

Senator John Kerry has just called President George W. Bush to concede the presidency of the United States, according to the reporters on television.  So it looks like it is not going to get drawn out after all.  Apparently the Kerry camp realizes that it cannot win, even with the provisional ballots, and is not going to drag the country through any kind of lawsuits.  I am glad about that.  We need to get united behind one person.

Oh, Nevada was just called for Bush!  That is enough electoral votes to officially make him the next president of the United States of America.  Kerry will be out in a few minutes to address the press and and President Bush will be holding a press conference at 3 PM EST. 

I won't be able to hear it because I will be at therapy.  Maybe I will tape it.  Well, must be off.  Krissy :-)

No Concession Speech?

Wow!  Here it is 2:40 AM and we still don't have a concession speech from a candidate for president. We can't have a victory speech until we have a concession speech.  All the TV stations called President Bush the projected winner hours ago, and we thought at any minute John Kerry was going to come out and give his concession speech.  Instead, right before 2:40 AM John Edwards (Democratic Vice Presidential candidate) came out to the press and his supporters.  He was introduced by his staff as "The next Vice-President of The United States."  Then basically Edwards told the crowd that his camp "would not rest until every vote was counted."  So it looks like this is going to be a long and drawn out election this year.  Who knows.  Maybe it will take days or weeks.  I know to count the provisional ballots it takes 11 days.  And then I don't know if the Kerry camp is planning on doing any court challenges.  I guess it will go on for months then.  Hopefully we will know who will be in office by the time Inaurgural Day rules around.  Perhaps I am being too cynical but I think that Kerry should concede as there is no possible way for him to win at this time anyway. 

Have Heat - Will Keep Warm

Wow, it's Election Day already.  I am a little frustrated because I don't know who to vote for in two of the races.  Of course I have already decided who I am going to vote for for president.  That was never in question.  But there are two other races that I just can't make up my mind on.  I look over the literature and I can't decide.  I even emailed one of the campaigns yesterday to clarify some issues.  I still can't decide.  I only have a few hours to go before it is time to vote.  I had better make up my mind fast!  Either that or decide to leave that particular race blank.  Maybe I will do that.  Which is more responsible?  Decisions, decisions. 

On another note, the Landlord sent around a notice a couple of days ago saying the heat has been turned on.  I haven't tried it out yet because it has been unseasonably warn.  On Saturday it was about 70 degrees and on Sunday it was 60 degrees.  Monday and Tuesday were nice also.  Today is supposed to be the last nice day.  Sunday is supposed to be the first major snowstorm of the year.  I guess I better see how the heat is working before then and put the storm window in!  I will get John to do the storm window.  He always does stuff like that for me!

Well, I had no trick-or-treaters this year.  Just as well anyway.  I don't like the holiday with everybody dressed up in their little devil costumes.  But if an innocent little kid dressed like a princess knocked on my door and asked for a piece of candy I wasn't going to deny her this year.  I mean it isn't her fault that Halloween is something gross.  So I got some candy in case a princess or Spiderman came by.  And you know, nobody came by, lol.  So I have been having to eat the candy, lol.  No choice.  How horrible for a diabetic to say! 

Well, gotta run.  Hope to come back and do another entry soon. 

Monday Morning Question

Monday Morning Question:

What were you thinking about just before you got on the computer?

I was thinking that I had so many things to get done tomorrow, about what my errands should be, and that I had to make up my November calendar.  I was also looking over the candidates who are running for election on Tuesday in my area so I could decide who to vote for.  So many thoughts, lol.

How about you?

Scalzi's Weekend Assignment #31

This week's Weekened Assignment is:

Write your own, preferably rhyming, epitaph.  For example:

Here lies Jed,
He fell out of bed.

So here is my go at it:

Here lies Krissy Fisher
She died falling into a fissure
She fell into the crack
And never came back
And now we're all gonna miss her. 

Some More Photo Entries

Here are a few more Photo Scavenger Hunt entries:

sunflowerkat (Unusual)

madmanadhd (Unusual)

Monica did two more Unusuals.  Click here and here. 

jules19642001  Check out the entry below it also.

The Next Photo Scavenger Hunt

This weeks's Photo Scavenger Hunt (#5) should be completed by Saturday, Nov. 6, at 8 PM.  It was suggested by Therese.  The subject is:  

What is Love?

Your Entries for Photo Hunt #4

Entries for the Photo Scavenger Hunt - Challenge:  Unusual

sonensmilinmon

cneinhorn

sarajanesmiles

valphish

fisherkristina

theresemshaffer - click on something Scary, something Holy, and something Orange. Also check out theresemshaffer latest entry at the top of her new journal, and the next two entries after that, to see how she handled the subject Unusual.

jules19642001 (Something Holy, Something Scary, and an Orange Fruit or Vegetable)

Photo Scavenger Hunt #4

Unusual

This Challenge was particularly hard for me.  But I came up with three things that I thought were unusual.  The first thing was this strange looking fungus.  

It is the most unusual fungus I have ever run across.  It was about four inches across and about four inches out, kind of like a round ball, and sort of hairy!

The second unusual thing I encountered was a SCUBA shop.  Here is the sign in front of the shop.

      

Now what is unusual about a SCUBA shop you may ask?  We are three hundred miles from the ocean.  I don't even know anybody who dives.  Who goes to this store anyway???

And finally I give you roses.  Roses in October.  Two days before November.  Roses don't bloom in Pennsylvania in October.  Instead we get frigid weather and sometimes snow.  So here I give you unusual:

List your link here

If you haven't already given me your link for the latest Photo Scavenger Hunt, then list yours in the comments section.

I need to go out for a few hours and just wanted to give you a place to put your entry.  

Thanks, Krissy  :-)   

Lunar Eclipse

Last night a lunar eclipse occurred.  There won't be another one until 2007, so I thought I had better go out and watch it.  This is my crummy attempt of taking a picture of it!  This is when a shadow was first creeping across the moon.  Eventually, more of a shadow crept across, and even later the moon turned a coppery orange.  I didn't take a picture of the orangish moon as I realized my attempts of taking pics were not too good.  I think this pic of the moon looks kind of like a bean, lol. 

But I absolutely loved the experience of watching the eclipse.  I went with John and we went to the local park and met up with his astronomy club.  There were lots of telescopes set up.  While you definitely didn't need a telescope to see the eclipse, everybody was looking through scopes at the moon and stars before the eclipse started.  There were lots of amateur astronomers there giving me information, as I know the least out of everybody there I am sure.  I am not an astronomer like everybody else there, I just tag along with John when they have events.  I am glad I went though, it was a great experience, and I am glad I got to see the moon turn an orangish color.  

On another note, yesterday was Valerie's birthday.  It was lots of fun.  We had a little birthday party in the morning.  She is going to write about it later on today in her journal.  Thanks everyone who wished her well wishes for her birthday!  

I must go now.  My kitty is scratching on the window because he wants me to open it so he can lay in there!  Hope everyone has a great day!    

The New Brady Bunch Album

Listen to a few songs from the Brady Singers.

Come on, you know you want to!

Click on:

The Brady Bunch Music Room

From the album "The Best of the Brady Bunch"
It's A Sunshine Day

I think i'll go for a walk outside now
the summer sun's callin my name
(i hear ya now)
i just can't stay inside all day
i gotta get out get me some of those rays
everybody's smilin
sunshine day
everybody's laughin
sunshine day
everybody seems so happy today
it's a sunshine day

i think i'll go for a walk outside now
the summer sun knows me by name
(he's acallin me)
I gotta get out, gotta get out, gotta get away
I gotta get away, get away, get away, get away...
Into the sunshine day....

Oh I think I'll take a walk everyday now
the summer sun has shown the way to be happy now
I just can't stay inside all day
I gotta get out get me some of those rays...
everybody's smilin
sunshine day
everybody's laughin
sunshine day
everybody seems so happy today
it's a sunshine day

Can't you dig the sunshine
Now its sounded the same
Can't you hear him callin your name?

i think I'll go for a walk outside now
the summer sun's callin my name
(i hear ya now)
I just can't stay inside all day
I gotta get out get me some of those rays...
everybody's smilin
sunshine day
everybody's laughin
sunshine day
everybody seems so happy today
it's a sunshine day

everybody's smilin
sunshine day
everybody's laughin
sunshine day
everybody seems so happy today

Monday Morning Question (A Few Hours Late!)

Monday Morning Question:

If you could be an animal (other than a cat or dog - let's make this tougher!) which one would you be and why?

I would be a bird.  I have always wanted to fly.  Oh, I am going to have two answers, lol.  Or I would be a chimpanzee.  They have great intelligence and seem to know what is going on around them.

How about you?

Brrrrr

Brrrrrrrrrrrr. It is cold this morning.  I woke up and I was freezing.  The temp had dropped about eight degrees in my apartment overnight.  Doesn't sound like much perhaps but it is a lot when it is really cold outside and you have fibromyalgia. 

The landlord pays for the gas in my apartment and the heat is run on gas.  He doesn't want to pay for the heat yet, so he just hasn't had it turned on.  We have had nights that have been between 30 and 35 degrees F.  Not cold to some I know, but cold to a fibro person.  So I just shiver at night.  Even with lots of blankets.  This morning I got up and boiled a pot of hot water (on my electric stove) and that heated the place right up.  I don't always want to put that much moisture in the air, but I had to get warm.  It worked this time.  And I think it was good for my lungs too.

I am debating whether I am going to say something to him about the situation or not.  Most things I speak to him about he totally ignores.  I mean the place here is really nice, don't get me wrong, and there is almost never a problem, but if there is, he doesn't seem to jump to do something about it.  It took him weeks to get rid of the wasps.  Oh well. 

I know what will make me feel better at least momentarily.  Thinking of Sara, I will go get myself a nice hot cup of tea.  :-)

Three More Entries

Here are three more entries for past Photo Scavenger Hunts.  Just a note:  Sara was one of the first to finish on list week's Photo Challenge.  She wasn't late.  I just neglected to add her in with the first batch of names.  Sorry Sara!

sarajanesmiles (Holy, Scary, and an Orange Fruit or Vegetable)

cneinhorn (Orange Fruit, and Scary)

sunflowerkat321 (Autumn Entry)

The Next Photo Scavenger Hunt

This week's Photo Scavenger Hunt (#4) should be completed by Saturday, October, 30 at 8 PM.  The subject matter will be UNUSUAL suggested by Monica.  Take one or more photos of what you think is unusual.  This one may stretch us a little, but we can be creative!  Have fun!  

Your Entries for Photo Hunt #3

Entries for the Photo Scavenger Hunt for Something Holy, Something Scary, and an Orange Fruit or Vegetable

sonensmilinmon

justcherie

abeator81

valphish

angieabk

wildirisheyes

madmanadhd

kkasey47

fisherkristina

Everybody's was great!  Go check them out!  And thanks to everyone who participated.  Hope you had fun!  I sure did!  Love, Krissy :-)

Photo Scavenger Hunt #3

Photo Scavenger Hunt #3
Something Holy, Something Scary, and an Orange Fruit or Vegetable

Something Holy:  A Lenten Cross

Something Scary:  People actually eat Octopus!

An orange fruit or vegetable:
     gourd: (noun) 1. Any of several vines related to the pumpkin, squash, and cucumber, and bearing fruits with a hard rind.  2.  The fruit of such a vine often of irregular and unusual shape. 

 

Note:  If you haven't left me your entry yet but would still like it mentioned, please list your entry in the comments section to this entry.Thanks! Krissy
Oh yeah, next week's challenge will be announced tomorrow.  Because I am tired, lol.  Aren't we all?   

 

Odds And Ends

It's been a few days since I've made an entry.  I have been really busy.  I have been doing a lot of Carmelite studies for the Carmelite Order (Secular Order of Carmelites Discalced) that I am in.  We are called secular because we live out in the world and among the people to help them.  By the way, if anyone is asking, and people often do, if you are Secular Order Carmelite, you are allowed to be married.  When you make your promises (such as chastity), it is according to your state in life.  Speaking of promises, I will be making my lifetime promises of poverty, chastity, and obedience on November 13, but I will speak about that when I get closer to the date.  It will be at the next Carmelite gathering I go to after tomorrow morning's.

Entry before last I mentioned that Chelsea was in Florida saying goodbye to her grandmother.  Her grandmother passed away and fortunately Chelsea did get to be there to say goodbye.  She will be back on Sunday after the funeral.  While she was down there she got to hear Matthew her brother sing in a presentation.  Matthew goes to a School of the Arts now!  She also got to see her baby brother Sammy whom she treasures and her Daddy and Michele.  

What else is new?  My parents finally got their coveted flu shot!  A cleaning company decided to give away some of their flu vaccine.  Thirty low risk employes donated their flu shots!  It was advertised and the public was told to call if they felt they were high risk and state their case.  Both of my parents were chosen to get one of the coveted shots! 

Okay, so I have to get off here.  John is visiting for awhile and wants to use the phone.  I need to go back to doing my Carmelite studies anyway.  And I still have to put my photos in here tonight too.  And sleep at some point.  Sheesh!

Two Belated Photo Entries

Last week I was at a park behind my house and took this photograph.  I like how the beautiful red trees line the roadway.  The colors are so beautiful in Autumn.

Speaking of Autumn, I wanted to include an Autumn entry that didn't get to be included with the Autumn enties last week.  This one comes from beccihouse.  Go ahead and check it out.  You will enjoy it.

I also wanted to include an entry from Photo Scavenger Hunt #1.  Okay, it's a little late but we will give her some time to catch up!  This entry comes from sunflowerkat321.  Please go check this one out also.  It is gorgeously done! 

Hope you all are having fun this week with your cameras.  :-) 

Chelsea

I'm up because I slept a lot of the day.  That is because the night before last (Monday night) John and I went over to Chelsea's house (Val's daughter) and kept her company while she packed and got ready to go to Florida for a visit.  She wasn't going to Florida for vacation.  She was going back to say goodbye to her Nanny who is passing away. 

John and I helped her get ready to go and drove her to the airport.  Valerie would have driven her to the airport but she can't see in the dark.  John is such a sweetheart and went out in the freezing, pouring rain and got us breakfast at 3:30 in the morning.  We had hot bacon egg and cheese bagels thanks to him.  With cokes!  I had a diet coke.  John got himself a meatball sub for breakfast, lol!  He got Val a sausage egg and cheese bagel.  John is such a sweetheart for everything he does.  He drove quite a distance to get the breakfast as not too much was open in the middle of the night, and he found a place that made fresh breakfast sandwiches!  He also drove Chelsea to the airport.  And did some other things.  He is my hero.  Of course we would do anything for Chelsea.  I teased her that she wanted me to knit her a sweater when she was asking me to help her out, but in reality, I would do anything for her. 

Everybody if you could, pray for her Nanny, and pray for Chels while she is down there.

On to another subject, I heard on the news a few hours ago that Canada was going to share some of their flu vaccines with the US.  If I remember correctly it will be 2.6 million dosages.  They are supposed to go to the elderly.  I wonder how the dosages are going to be distributed, and how the rule is going to be enforced.  I don't see how it would be possible to enforce something like that.  I am still hoping my parents get their shot. 

Well, gotta go.  I got a big day ahead of me tomorrow.   

Flu Shots

I got my flu shot this morning.  I was fortunate.  My healthcare provider received its batch of flu vaccine from the company who didn't have the tainted supply.  There are two vaccine company suppliers.  Sanofi-Aventis SA is the supplier that is not contaminated.  Chiron is the company with the tainted supply.  Both company's were to supply half of the vaccine.  Chiron had to shut down it's plant in Liverpool, England after it was discovered that it's flu vaccine was contaminated.  I guess everyone has heard by now there is only half a supply of flu vaccine.  

On average 36,000 people die a year from the flu.  This year may be higher because of the lack of vaccines.  What seems crazy to me is the people who have the doctors who have the nontainted supply get shots, while the doctors who received the tainted supplies have no vaccines for their patients.  My Father is 76 and cannot get a flu shot.  Neither can my mother.  It is because their doctor has the wrong supplier.  It does not matter that they are in the high risk category several times over.  They are also not allowed to come to my doctor and get a flu shot.  Those shots are reserved for the patients at my doctor's office.  Even for people who are not high risk.  It does not seem that the distribution is fair.  It makes no sense to me.

I hope my parents can get a flu shot.  They have tried everywhere so far to no avail.  But there is still time, so I will try not to worry.

So far there have been cases of the flu in California, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Michigan, and Utah.

I am glad both John and I got our shots this morning.  We are both in high risk categories.  I have asthma and he has Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.  So I just can't get the flu. 

Well, I must go now.  Chels just IMed me and she needs me to come over to her house and help her with something tonight.  I hope everyone stays well.   

Monday Morning Question

Monday Morning Question:

What is your favorite museum?  What is your favorite exhibit there?

My favorite museum is the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC.  I used to go there on field trips all the time as a child.  I have two favorite exhibits.  The first is the Native American one.  I love to learn about other cultures, and find the Indians fascinating.  My second favorite exhibit is the geological exhibit.  The rooms are filled with beautiful gemstones and minerals.  One whole wall is lined with quartz!

Tell us about your favorite!   

Three More Autumn Entries

Check out these Autumn photos from boiseladie.  They are beautiful. 

The next entry comes to us from chasferris.  He has an interesting entry and it looks like we have an interesting new journal to read!

The next entry comes from my sister Therese Shaffer.  She has created her own webpage to participate.  It may take a few seconds to download so give it a wait, because it is more than well worth it!  The first picture may or may not come out, but make sure you get a look at the last three photos.  Her webpage is:
http://home.comcast.net/~singing_mermaid/webpage.htm 
If you would like to leave her a comment and encourage her, her email address is ThereseMShaffer@aol.com

Until Saturday then!

Autumn Entries

Here are the Autumn Photo Scavenger Hunt Entries:

Becky's Entry

Amy's Entry

Michael's Entry

Sara's Entry

Sonya's Entry

Monica's Entry

Lori's Entry

Mary's Entry

levi1023

Kasey's Entry  Also check out the three entries below it, to get the other three Autumn photos!

Cherie did last week's entry.  Perhaps she wants to use this beautiful Autumn Foliage Entry for this week's entry.

Krissy's Entry (can't forget myself!)

I sure hope I didn't leave anyone out!  If I left you out, email me, and I will write you up in a special entry, lol! 

I hope everyone had fun.  Everyone's work was so creative!  You all amaze and inspire me.   

Next week's assignment is listed in the previous entry for those of you who can participate.

Have a great week!  Love, Krissy

Next Week's Photo Scavenger Hunt

Next week's Photo Scavenger Hunt should be completed by Saturday, October 23 at 8 PM.  Photo Scavenger Hunt #3 will go as follows (selected by my sister Therese):

Take a photograph of something...

1.  Holy
2.  Scary
3.  Orange fruit or vegetable (ie. pumpkin or carrot)

Have fun!  Next week I will do a suggestion from one of you all!  Send some suggestions in if you'd like!  Thanks to you who have already sent in suggestions. 

Resizing Photos

Microsoft PowerToys for Windows XP

Download image resizer and run it.
It adds a Resize Pictures option to the right click menu of the photo.

Let me explain.

Download the Resizer.
Click on the photo in your documents you want to add to your journal through your FTP space.
Right Click on Resize Pictures.
Choose small, medium, or large.  For your FTP Space you will want small.  Click OK.
The new photo that appears in your documents is the photo you want to upload into your FTP space and put in your journal.

Now upload through your FTP space and put the pic in your journal.

Thank  you Stuart for finding this tool for us!

******************************************************

Now, about putting more than one photo in an entry.  There are several ways to do it, but I like to do it like this:

Put your cursor where you want the picture to go.  Click on the camera symbol at the top of the page that you are writing the entry in.  It is next to the little globey.  The "Explorer User Prompt" will come up asking for a URL when you click on the camera icon.  Type in the URL of your photo.  It will be something like:

http://members.aol.com/fisherkristina/jackolanterns.jpg 

It will always start out http://members.aol.com/  and then have your screen name/.  Then type in the picture name from the FTP space that you would like to have appear in that spot.  Don't forget to add the jpg or whatever type of file it is.   

Pretty simple.  If you  have questions, email me.

Photo Scavenger Hunt #2

Autumn Things

Nothing like a pumpkin to pick from.

Or a selection of gourds.

The kid in Spiderman regalia was told by his Mom to "fly down the haystack like Spiderman"!

   

This is a bona fide reindeer.  I can't believe he let me get close enought to him to take his picture!  He got upset when I did though, and began rubbing his antlers in the fence.  He got tangled in there and John and some other men went and had to untangle him.  I felt so bad because I disturbed him.  Valerie says I should name him Dasher because he is so Dashing.

Happy Autumn!  Can't wait to see everybody's entries!  Leave a link here with your entry so I can include your entry in the list of entries.  I will list all of the entries Saturday (tomorrow) night at about 8 PM.  Love, Krissy :-)  

Feeling Philosophical

Michael is running around the room, racing and playing!  It is so much fun to watch him play!  He is so full of energy tonight. 

Earlier he did something so funny.  He tried to open the door and go outside.  I had two boxes by the door ready to go to Good Will.  He climbed on top of the boxes.  Then he put one paw on the doorknob, and the other paw on the deadbolt.  He tried to turn them to go outside.  I laughed so hard.  He watches what we do all the time!

Michael reminded me of John's cat Meisha tonight.  I really miss her.  She died four years ago and yet I still think about her a lot and when I saw Michael doing something that reminded me of her tonight I cried.   Gee, I really loved her, and I still do.  Interesting how pets will do that to you.  I asked John which month she passed away and he said October.  Then I realized this must be an anniversary thing for me, with me remembering her passing and all. 

She was the best cat.  She used to sit on my lap and not want to leave me for anything.  I hope that cats go to Heaven.

I just got done watching the presidential debate.  I don't know why I watched.  It only made me nervous!  Watching and routing is not going to change how a candidate does.  Agonizing in the next coming weeks is not going to change anything either.  Or staying up all election night to see who wins!  It won't change anything.  I should just chill out on this political stuff already! 

I haven't written an entry in a few days.  I have been doing pretty well.  I have just been working on some issues with my therapist.  Actually some very good things - straightening some things out in my life.  Very liberating.  Getting on with life you might say.  Taking care of some things I have wanted to do but haven't in years. 

Gee, I am sounding kind of philosophical tonight!  I better make sure I have some fun this week!  Maybe I better go bash some Haggis or something!  Or play a Pogo game. 

God bless everyone.