How we Get Great Gas Mileage.....

We might not be going anywhere in a hurry but we will be getting great gas mileage.

How to Make a New Year's Resolution

Tradition dictates that every 365 days, you should try to kick bad habits and start your life anew. So sit down with a cup of coffee, a paper and a pen, and reflect: What kinds of New Years Resolutions will you make for yourself this January 1st?

1. Create a Plan

Setting a goal without formulating a plan is merely wishful thinking. In order for your resolution to have resolve, (as the word "resolution" implies), it must translate into clear steps that can be put into action. A good plan will tell you A) What to do next and B) What are all of the steps required to complete the goal.


2. Create Your Plan IMMEDIATELY

If you're like most people, then you'll have a limited window of opportunity during the first few days of January to harness your motivation. After that, most people forget their resolutions completely.

It is imperative that you begin creating your plan immediately.

3. Write Down Your Resolution and Plan

myGoals.com exists to help you formulate a plan, which we then help you stick to. But even if you don't use myGoals.com, commit your resolution and plan to writing someplace, such as a notebook or journal.

4. Think "Year Round," Not Just New Year's

Nothing big gets accomplished in one day. Resolutions are set in one day, but accomplished with a hundred tiny steps that happen throughout the year. New Year's resolutions should be nothing more than a starting point. You must develop a ritual or habit for revisiting your plan. myGoals.com helps you stick to your plan by providing email reminders that arrive when it's time to work on a given task.

And finally...

5. Remain Flexible

Expect that your plan can and will change. Life has a funny way of throwing unexpected things at us, and flexibility is required to complete anything but the simplest goal. Sometimes the goal itself will even change. Most of all, recognize partial successes at every step along the way. Just as a resolution isn't accomplished the day it's stated, neither is it accomplished the day you reach your goal. Rather, it's accomplished in many small increments along the way. Acknowledge these incremental successes as they come.

Happy New Year......

H ours of happy times with friends and family
A bundant time for relaxation
P rosperity
P lenty of love when you need it the most
Y outhful excitement at lifes simple pleasures

N ights of restful slumber (you know - dont' worry be happy)
E verything you need
W ishing you love and light

Y ears and years of good health
E njoyment and mirth
A angels to watch over you
R embrances of a happy years!

Dengozo..by Ernesto Nazareth...

Watch this one....it's only about a minute long.
I don't think you will see this on Dancing with the Stars.



Nazareth was a famous composer from Brazil. His music was international and often
thought to be Parisian but only because it was performed so widely in Paris.
This little clip is Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers (I know you thought that was Linda and Mike) performing a tango called The Maxixe. Maxixe (pronounced Ma-chee-ch)

Ernesto Nazareth (1863-1934) was born and lived throughout his life in Rio de Janeiro. Raised in a modest home, he began piano lessons with his mother and then studied with family friends Eduardo Madeira and Lucien Lambert. His unusual talents were recognized at an early age when, at fourteen, his first piano composition, the polka-lunda Voce bem sabe was published.

During this time musical life in Brazil was a rich tapestry of imported European art music and indigenous folk music performed by the chorinhos. The chorinhos were serenading bands who played a variety of string and wind instruments including guitar, mandolin and ukelele, flute and clarinet. These street musicians improvised on traditional Brazilian folks melodies and rhythms very often flavored with “blues-like” tunes known as choros. For Nazareth, these musical currents were among the ideas which charged his own imagination at the keyboard.

Be who you are.......

Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.
-Dr. Seuss

Merry Christmas

Quote For Today:

"Christmas - that magic blanket that wraps itself about us, that something so intangible that it is like a fragrance. It may weave a spell of nostalgia. Christmas may be a day of feasting, or of prayer, but always it will be a day of remembrance - -a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved."

~ Augusta E. Rundel

Through Edens Gate (Cakewalk)

Cory Hall plays the piano. Cory is a piano scholar that studies Bach and other great composers.
He teaches at the University of Florida.

WHAT IS A CAKEWALK.........?
Its origins in slavery and the plantation south, the Cakewalk was the sole organized and even condoned forum for servants to mock their masters. A send-up of the rich folks in the "Big House," the cakewalk mocked the aristocratic and grandiose mannerisms of southern high-society. Much bowing and bending were characteristic of the dance, which was more a performance than anything else. Couples lined up to form an aisle, down which each pair would take a turn at a high-stepping promenade through the others. In many instances the Cakewalk was performance, and even competition. The dance would be held at the master’s house on the plantation and he would serve as judge. The dance’s name comes from the cake that would be awarded to the winning couple. The sayings "Easy as a piece of cake" and "It's a cakewalk" originated from this dance.

Antique Santa.......

This is a very old Woolson Spice Co. card, showing a gorgeous colorful Santa with his bag of toys. He's leaning over the moon and looking at an ocean scene below. Such a whimsical piece, notice how Santa is hanging stockings on the Moon!

Ann....

I don't know who shot this photo but I'm sure that is my sister on her way to Florida to visit the grandkids.....
Hi Ann......you look great. HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS......
We love you............

Our advise to Tiger Woods.......

"If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it."

That advise is number 14 on a list of "48 Things Life Taught Me".
The list was written by a 90 year old lady....years ago.

I think her advise is still applicable today. We may have wonderful and powerful
gadgets and things.......but all the same morals and values apply today
that were relavent 100 years ago.

Oh, and one more thing Tiger. This is number 15 on the same list.
"Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks."

We hope that all this turns out for the best for Tiger, his wife and children.

Santa Painting.....

A great painting by Mike Beeman of Cheyenne, Wyoming. This painting is one of
the Daily Painters Art Gallery.

A Special Vintage Christmas Card....

Here is a beautiful old vintage Christmas card, thank you Graphics Fairy.....

Merry Christmas...Mike and Linda

 

Maicey and Santa 2009.....

 

Who is that Raindeer????

 

Candy Lane

 

Raindeer Maicey and Mom

Maicey and Mom Katie getting ready for Christmas party.....

Vintage Nativity

Drawing by Benjamin Boulter of the Nativity. This drawing has been used as a Christmas Card. Saint Silas Church, Kentish Town, London, NW5. For all enquiries please email: contact@saintsilas.org.uk

I know that one is a sleigh ride and not a nativity. It was such a beautiful card I had to put it in with the others. These are all images of cards I found on the web under vintage nativity cards.

Razor Clams

Matt and Jackie had a successful razor claim dig.......
on the coast of Washington state.

DC Christmas Tree

Wow that is a fabulous Christmas Tree.
A little larger than ours...

Vintage Christmas

This beautiful Christmas Lady is complimentary...... from Graphics Fairy......

A couple of old Pilgrims....

Must have been a rough trip on the Mayflower......















Mike and Sinatra had a great Thanksgiving at Dax and Katie's house. Maicey
was an angel the entire day......

Lucy and Ethel --Halloween

 

It was a fun Halloween party. Lucy and Ethel probably had too many martini's!!!!!

Tips........

This is something we should all read at least once a week!
Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me.
It is the most-requested column I've ever written."
My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie.
Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's,we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

New Painting by Patty Baker

Happy Thanksgiving.....

Butterfly...

Maicey was a butterfly for halloween this year.....pretty cute.

 

Maicey spends time with her posse....Sinatra and Sierra......

 

Maicey loves to take a bath.....

 

New Paintings by Patty Baker

Time for Halloween

Aaron-Alicia-Amanda are trick&treating already........scary!!!