Flash 55 Friday - Happy New Year - December 31, 2010

Another year comes to an end,

I'm not so sad to see it go,

It wasn't really great for me,

It was full of misery and woe.

I look, with hope, to days ahead,

Of better times and sunny skies,

My life's in flux, there's change for me,

All to come with the year's demise.

Carmen Henesy

Copyright (c) Carmen Henesy

December 31, 2010

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE
MAY 2011 BE THE BEST YEAR EVER!!

I am participating in Flash 55 Friday sponsored by Mr.KnowItAll.

Check it out and join in !

Alphabe Thursday - A New Year Dawns - December 30, 2010

As the old year wanes, I'm pensive,

And I hope I did my part,

To pause along the way,

And to open up my heart.

When someone was in need,

I pray I stopped a while,

To do a little kindness,

With understanding and a smile.

Though the year was not so easy,

Many fared far worse than me.

Did I try to nurture others,

When they struggled helplessly?

Did I say, "I love you,"

To those for whom I care?

Or did I assume they knew it,

Because they're always there.

Am I a better person,

As the year draws to its end?

Am I loyal, kind and loving,

The sort one would call a friend?

I am running out of new years,

And my hair is turning gray,

I have to realize my dreams,

Without a minute of delay.

With the chiming clock at midnight,

I'll raise my glass in cheer,

Make the most of every second,

In the brand new fledgling year!

Happy 2011 to all my family and friends!.

Carmen Henesy

Copyright (c) Carmen Henesy

December 30, 2010

I am participating in Jenny Matlock's Alphabe Thursday - join in the fun!

 

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A Calhoun Christmas - December 28, 2010

Somehow, I've really been lazy since getting home from our holiday visit to the
Sacramento area.  I did my own Christmas dinner on Sunday, turkey and all, and,
after spending hours in the kitchen, I've been a bit remiss in getting back on the internet
and in posting the promised blog about our Christmas day at the home of Christine and
Roger Calhoun, the new family I acquired when my son, Alex, married his lovely, Laura. 
I couldn't be happier with my extended family.  I remember Alex commenting early on
in his relationship with Laura, "if you marry a girl, you marry her family as well so, if I
don't like them, I guess Laura won't be the one for me."  There's no question that Laura
is the girl for him and her family is terrific, too.

After spending Friday evening at Alex's, we drove to Antelope ( not sure how the name
was acquired as I didn't see any grazing as we made the half hour drive to the home of
Laura's parents ) about noon on Christmas day, carrying my spiced black olives,
artichoke fritatta, and garlic cheese ball.  Besides Christine and Roger Calhoun, Laura's
mom and stepdad, her grandmother, Trudy Gilkey was there and, soon after we arrived,
her brother, Robert Winterhalter, his wife, Kristen, and their little son, Conner, came. 
Later in the day, Kristen's parents also stopped by.  We had a lovely afternoon, opening
gifts, and watching Conner open his.  I had to laugh, though.  He seemed to get the most
enjoyment out of the little Snowman box which his Grammy Gilkey had filled with Kix
cereal!  Finally, we all settled down to a delicious feast and lots of good conversation
and reminisces.

 Somehow, this one is all blurry - but it's still pretty.

The Nativity scene - child friendly

Jeremy with his mom, wearing her "Queen" Santa hat

Laura with her husband, Alex, and brother-in-laws, Shawn and Jeremy

Santa left something for Gus!

Here's a little help from Christine

Wow, new tennis balls for me

Bliss!

Okay, who's next?

Lumberjack Santa

Cheers from Carmen

Robert, Kirsten, and Conner Winterhalter

Robert, Laura and Conner with "Grammy" Gilkey and Christine, their mother ( Conner's grandmother )

The Winterhalter clan ( before Christine and Laura married )

Conner with his grandparents

Trudy Gilkey

Time to eat

Home Again - December 26, 2010

Home Again - December 26, 2010

I drove up to West Sacramento, California on Christmas Eve with my oldest son,
Shawn Smith, and my youngest, Jeremy Vukasinovic.  Our destination was the home
of my middle son, Alex Vukasinovic, and his wife, Laura, and my two granddogs. I spent
a good part of  the day before preparing our Christmas Eve dinner since Laura, who is a
paramedic, was scheduled to work until 8PM and I didn't want her to worry with cooking
after putting in a twelve hour shift taking care of patients.  Alex works a rather bizarre
4AM to noon shift at his job. 

Armed with an assortment of appetizers, two crab quiches, two Caribbean pies

for dessert and several bottles of wine, we were greeted warmly by all. To make the

gathering merrier, Shawn's friend, Dawn, and her daughter, Kirsten, joined us for dinner.

We had a lovely evening, with a lot of laughter, enhanced by three dogs, two of them my

granddogs and Gus, who has been Laura's since she was thirteen.  He lives with her

mom and, sadly, now has cancer.  He still is a sweet and loving pooch, though, and does

not yet seem to be in any great discomfort.

My middle ( and only married) son, Alex

Alex's lovely wife, Laura

Jeremy, Shawn, Alex and my granddog, Bucky

The stockings I made for Laura and Alex last year

( I still haven't put their names on them )



Taffy says she loves her grandma even if she is

always taking pictures!

Gus and Bucky are waiting to play fetch and

Taffy is eyeing the couch

I'd rather sit comfy than chase a tennis ball!

Now, this REALLY feels good!

Okay, Shawn, throw another one!

Kirsten, Dawn, and Shawn

Goodness, Alex and Jeremy are TALL!

Mama Carmen and her three sons

The table looks nice

Taffy is getting a scratch from Uncle Jeremy

Enough pictures, Paparrazi Mama!

Yummy!

What's so funny, Shawn?

Doggies have to wait in the living room while humans eat!

They are taking forever, Taffy.

I don't like this one bit.

How can you resist these sad eyes?  Eat faster!

Good grief!

I can't even look at them anymore, Taffy!

This is a doggie crying!

What about this face?  I'm lonely.

Yeah!  Daddy is telling us we are wonderful!

Good wine, good company!

Kirsten with Gus and Taffy

I can see why the doggies like this!

Tomorrow, I'll post our pictures taken at the Calhoun Christmas gathering in Antelope,

California.  Laura's mom and stepfather were nice enough to invite us to share their family

feast.  Since, other than myself and the boys, we have no family on the West Coast, it's

been nice to be included in Laura's famiy events since Alex married into this wonderful

group. 

I'm posting this on Pet Pride since there are so many pictures of Taffy and Bucky in

this post.  Check out the site and put your animal family photographs there.