This is Just The Beginning !

 Welcome.  Won't you come in and sit awhile ?  How about a cup of Earl Gray to start off ?  We here, at the Dusty Cottage, are so glad you stopped by.  I, myself have so many things to share with you and it's important you are comfortable and happy to be here.  So sit back, relax and enjoy.

This is my front door.  Isn't it just cool ?  My Jim made it.  He knows I love anything that has to do with a cottage so he rounded off the top.  I just love them.  Now that you are at my front door you might as well join us.

One of the things I wanted to share is weight loss.  Have you had any lately?  No, well me neither.  Now here is the good news.  I just had the pleasure of reading a book (I know what you are thinking, Not another diet !) about diets exercise etc., well you get the picture.  What was different about this book is.....the author had no diet to follow.  What, you say?  That is right.  In fact he stated a few facts I would like to share with you.  Let's face it diet plans that limit you to certain foods, do not work, for that matter any diet plan no matter what the foods are involved do not work.  I will say the closest one would be Weight Watchers.  That is because it doesn't really limit you to certain food and it's everyday food.  You don't have to by their products.  I know, you can as I have bought them from WW but what I am saying is, that is your choice as you can make the food yourself.  Getting back to what I was talking about....  We, are the ones who need to change.  Our behavior, attitude, and where we eat.  I know I have a habit of eating in the evening, yes, watching tv.  We know that is the worst.  He states sometimes we eat our of boredom or we think we are hungry when what we are is thirsty.  Just some thoughts to think about.  I will have more later.  Interesting don't you think.
It's very cold here this morning.  We had to cover our citrus trees as lots of frost.  Our animals are doing fine.  The house cats, Elviria, Eleanor and Edgar are fine.  The house dogs, Tasha, Bella and Olivia are also fine as all of them are in out of the cold.  Now our outside animals I do worry about even though they do have a shelter to stay in.  We have out goats, Alice and Rosalie. Our rooster, Tweet Tweet, who has beautiful colorful feathers. Seven chickens and one baby chick.  Plus we have 7 pigeons and one baby pigeon.  And last but not least we have Elvis, who is a black cat that showed up one day as a little kitty.  We have tried to get him to come in the house but he refuses.  So he stays in the shelter with the goats.  Will be talking about our animals at varies times so wanted you to know them.

I have started getting plants for the yard.  They are so pretty in the stores.  Here is my plan.  Everytime I go to the grocery store I can buy two plants.  I have decided to only get yellow and purple flowers.  Maybe some blue.  Just want to have some kind of a theme.  I love those colors.  Several years ago I had a Moon Garden.  It was beautiful.  At that time we had a little pond in our back yard and I only bought white or silver plants to put around it.  When we had a full moon it was like it was glowing.  I just love it.  So I'm deciding where to put my yellow and purple flowers as they are still inside, it's just too cold to put them outside yet. 

Another thing I am going to do is go to the Farmers Market, I joined or I should say signed up for "Local Harvest".  They let you know where the farmers markets and organic farms are in your area.  I'm very excited about that as I have discovered some in my area very close by so this should be good.  My Jim is also going to plant some veggies for us. So the spring seems very promising for us

I have discovered to just Believe and everything works out.  Here's to a Healthy, Happy New Beginning.  Talk to you soon.  Tootles

The Sun is out !!

Elviria is thrilled !  Oh, what is that coming through the window, it's warms and oh so bright ?  THE SUN !  It has been many, many days since we have seen it.  Oh, I can't believe what a difference it makes.  You just get in a better mood and to be able to sit by a window and feel the warmth......heaven. 
   
     Have you put away all the Holiday decorations ?  You know we all love the holidays and we all love them to be over. Ha !  If you can stay away from all the advertising and scams then it's much better.  I know that is hard to do.  I do love the excitement and getting in the spirit of the holiday but I certainly do not need to be bombarded with all the ads and hype.  Just very glad it's over and the next holiday is Valentines.  I know, I know, we will be bombarded with hype again but with all my strength I will avoid it and just enjoy the sweet and lovely Valentines Day.

     Have you joined the gym yet ?  Or are you back at the gym ?  Jim and I have started our routine again.  I have to admit I do love it.  You just feel better and better.  Besides we have meant some great people.  We are getting out and moving and that's very important.  Don't delay......go and join.  Tootles and Doodles

Happy New Year !

This is my pretty Tasha.  What a sweet dog she is, even if she is self centered and thinks all the toys are hers.  Ha!  We got her on Craigslist and never regretted it for one minute.  The sun is shinning brightly on that day but not today as we are to have rain today and tomorrow.  Then next week it looks like sun, sun, sun.  Yeah !  I do miss the sun.

These are our other two dogs.  Olivia on the arm of the couch and Bella in the chair.  What little scampers they are and sadly little beggars thanks to my husband.  We love them dearly and enjoy all their personalities along with our 3 cats which are indoors also.  We do have a cat outdoors, that Jim started feeding as it was a stray and we have tried to get it to come in but he, Elvis, that is what Jim named him is just too scared to come in.  So we feed it outside and enjoy it.  Tootles

Rosalie and Alice

 Rosalie and Alice Wishing All of You Happy Holidays !
     Are they not the sweetest looking girls you have ever seen ?  Believe me they are a blast to play with.  They will run towards you going sideways with their heads tilted.  It is so cute.  Then when you go out to feed them if they are in the far corner of the yard, here they come lickity split on a dead run.  My whole family just loves them and we do have a great time playing with them.
     Is everyone ready for Christmas?  Two days left.  As if I'm telling you something you don't already know.  Between the TV and the Internet you are kept up to the minute especially if you are ordering on line.  I will be doing my shopping on the 24th.  Yes, that is right as I told you last time that is when the money is coming in for the Holidays.  Help!  Hey, I just as well put a good spin on it and have a great time.  I have my list of things to buy for gifts and I want to be able to look around in case I see something else.  Then before Jim and I hit the grocery store for Christmas dinner, we are going to eat out, ourselves.  Usually we do not.  I generally always cook meals at home except for the occasional pizza but hey, we are going to be out and you know we will be getting hungry and this way we will be going to the grocery store, full which is always better.  We will pick a place which is locally owned.  None of the chain restaurants, besides we have a great variety to choose from.  If I let my husband pick he will want Chinese, I'm almost sure and there is a great one in Chico and their food is yummy.  I also like Chinese but am leaning towards Italian so we will have to see.
     

Yesterday my Granddaughter came up and we made popcorn balls.  When she was small she made them with my Mom, so we decided we would honor my MOM and her Great Grandmother.

What a great time we had.  My other two Granddaughters and my daughter in law also shared in our fun.  The syrup could have been cooked a little longer as when we took a bite it lashed on to our teeth and would not let go.  I'm sure my MOM was on the side lines snickering about that.  Oh how she would have loved to have been here and believe me we would have loved her being here with us.  Merry Christmas Ada Belle, you are missed !  Tootles and Doodles

December 20, Monday 2010

It's raining cats and dogs here in Northern California. Yikes !  This is suppose to be the Happiest time of the year.....well let me tell you, It is not.  It is very dreary, and cold to top it off.  You look outside and the rain just keeps coming down, down, down.  Sometimes it's sprinkles, sometimes it's drizzles, sometimes it's pouring, and sometimes it's a deluge of rain that you swear someone has a power hose pointed at your window.  Now I ask you, what kind of Holiday season is this suppose to be.
     Hey, I have another one for you, speaking of dreary, we won't get our check for Christmas shopping until Dec. 24.  Now how is that for Holiday Spirit.  We will have one day to buy gifts, buy food for Christmas and any extra's.  ONE day.  Will I be able to do it in this rainy, road slick weather.  Well, I will, or I should we will try our best and be very very careful.
     Must say Have a Very Merry Christmas !  I do mean that from the bottom of my heart.  It's not the gifts that are important.  It isn't necessary to have fancy food, what is important is who you will be celebrating with.  Make sure it's the people you dearly love.  You know the ones who always bring a smile to your face, make you feel good by just being around them.  The kind of people who would do anything for you all you have to do is ask.  Sometimes it's friends and sometimes it's family.  Just be grateful you have them around and for those who are not looking forward to certain Uncle's or Aunt's or a family member your not so crazy about maybe you should look a little harder and soften your heart.  You just might not know their story.   Tootles and Happy Holidays

A Live Tree !

     Yes, that's right, we got a live tree and it's really pretty.  It's only about 4' and fits perfect in our windows.  Guess what ?  That cats do not bother it.  In fact they actually jump up beside it and go to sleep.  Isn't that great.  They are so cute.  We got everyone a stocking and I went ahead and bought all our animals presents.  I  bought some really cute boxes.  The are all ready decorated so I put dog toys and cat toys in them.  Our tree looks very pretty with the presents underneath.
     I just happened to be on Amazon looking at books (duh!) and on the bottom of one of the pages the title of a book caught my eye.  Fall of the Giants by Ken Follett.  I have wanted to get this since I first read about it last August.  I love his other books, Pillars of the Earth, and World without End.  I read where it was coming out the end of September and was very excited about it.  Then I saw the price for Kindle. WHAT!  19.99 and 19.40 for hardback.  I mean come on.  Ken, I love your writing but let's be reasonable.  There is no way I am paying that much for your book on Kindle.  Getting back to what was at the bottom of the page......This was a discussion about the price.  I did not realize other people felt the same way I did.  In fact, if what I read is true, they have a boycott on the book and only rated it 3 stars.  That is not from the content (which I understand the book is great) but because of the price.  I have to say I agree.  It seems the publisher is trying to insult the Kindle Nation by making it more then the hardback.  Now, I ask you, what in the world is that all about.  I have to hand it to all the outraged Kindle readers who are protesting, boycotting, and writing emails and there are a lot of them but what the publisher doesn't realize is in my quiet way I am also doing the same.  I do believe there are many, many people who feel like I do.  Maybe we don't scream and yell.  We don't write letters or start boycotts but we will, in our quiet way protest and bring you to our way of thinking.  It's the ones you never hear from who can stop the production and you will never know why.  Tootles

What kind of Tree do we get ?

     Jim and I are debating about what tree to get.  Do we get a fake one, a cut one or a live tree that we can plant in our yard.  I think we are going with the live tree.  That's what we got last year and we have it planted by out front gate.  Maybe we will keep buying them every year from now on and end up with a forest around us.  That would be great with me as Jim and I both love trees.  We can't get a large one as I do not have the room for it so I think this is the way to go.  When I get it decorated I will take a picture of it and post it on this site.  Hey, I know just the place for decorations.  Go to the 99 cent store.  I'm not kidding, they have the most beautiful ornaments I have ever seen and let's face it, the price is right.  Oh, now I'm really getting in the Christmas Spirit.  I want to buy candy canes to hang on the tree. I must get Jim and I our stocking and of course stocking for all our animals.  We have Tasha, Bella and Olivia our dogs.  Then we have Eleanor, Elviria, Edgar and Elvis our cats.  They are going to be excited about the tree also. ............ Oh No.... The cats Will be excited about the tree.  They will think it's a new toy for them to climb in.  OH NO.  Well I could put it in one of windows as they all have storage underneath so maybe it wouldn't be out where they could see it or have a chance to jump in it.  Oh dear, I have much to think about.  Well, we will just have to figure it out because I really want a tree. Wishing you lots of luck and joy in finding that perfect tree.   Tootles