Hey Mac!!!!!! I'm in a quandary!!!!!

Well the big change over to a Mac Book from a life (well since 1983) of PC's has been a real adventure. For the most part I'm really liking my MacBook. Just some little irritations.... LIKE no blog editor like 'MS Live Writer' for MAC. I thought i had found one but it doesn't play nice with Lion osX. And there isn't much else out there. DO any of you Mac users have any suggestions???? I did buy Office for Mac which has Word, Excel, and Power Point, but none of them seems to be what i'm looking for. So for the time being i'm composing in Word and pasting into Blogger.

Any help would be great.... come on .... i know someone out there is a closet Mac user..... fess up!!!!!

I'm Waiting...

Grenville

Thanks for the Christmas Cards

Our Thanks  to all blogger friends who have sent Christmas greetings. We have enjoyed reading your holiday messages and seeing your photos. Fellow bloggers who sent an email with their name and address will be getting one from us. And, if you want to get in on this year’s exchange, there’s still time. Here’s what to do.

We’re putting the cards on display in our living room as we always do. It’s nice to be surrounded by “friends” at Christmas.

Friday Funnies

Just in time for holiday spending – this check came in the mail.

Notice the amount – that’s right – it’s 5 centsAnd, it’s only good until Dec 22.WOW, it’s a good thing that Grenville and I agreed on no gift buying for one another this year. 

Happy Birthday Frank

For those of you who may not realize it, 'The Chairman of the Board' would have been 96 years old today. What???? You don't know who i'm talking about????? Well maybe you're too young, or didn't grow up in the shadow of Manhattan listening to WNEW-AM. That is where DJ Martin Block crowned Francis Albert Sinatra the Chairman of the Board.

Born on December 15, 1915 to Martin and 'Dolly' Sinatra in Hoboken New Jersey, he decided on a career in singing after hearing Bing Crosby. Frank went on to become one of the best known entertainers of the century. In Las Vegas the Sands Hotel announced his presence with just one word on the marquee, "FRANK".

His recordings still represent some of the best of the "Great American Song Book".

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FRANK!!!!! We miss you.....

Grenville

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like . . .

Last weekend, we went tree shopping. After visiting a couple of nurseries and not finding any balled trees that were (1) small enough or (2) nice looking, we decided to go with a live cut tree once again. This year, we wanted  one that would fit on top of a table by the front window vs. the typical floor-to-ceiling one of past years.

Our search was successful and soon the tree was in our cart, tied securely atop Grenville’s Jeep and on the way home. We decided to try  LED lights this year. Since we were using a smaller tree, a single 100-light set would be perfect.

The finished result after we decorated yesterday. That’s an angel that lost her head (but only for the photo). Small toy bears are around the tree stand and this group is guarding the tree below.

Another group is hanging out by the TV/stereo cabinets.This Nativity set was purchased more years ago than I can recall from a K-Mart store. It’s set up every holiday season and is usually on the fireplace mantel. This year it was relocated to a table.

We will be spending the holidays at home alone for the first time in many years. This decision is by choice to recoup from recent road trips, visits from electro-gremlins, and plumbing “adventures.” We’re planning to spend Christmas at home watching  holiday movies, relaxing and being together without any company, dinner to prepare, schedules to keep or gifts to exchange. We’re giving one another “nuttin for Christmas” this holiday, except each our love.

And we’re keeping inside and outside The Frog & PenguINN decorations  simpler and not putting as much “stuff” as in previous years. Of course, we still have favorites, like the mistletoe ball, holiday bell, “snow” penguin and the merry chris-moose.We went through containers of holiday trimmings then donated a lot of “stuff.” A nursing home was happy to receive many stuffed teddy bears, penguins and frogs. These will be given to residents who might not otherwise receive any gifts.

Grenville decorated in the front yard and those decorations are much simpler as well. Penguins, candy canes and angel flags. A large cedar tree in the front yard was decorated with white lights.

We’re wondering how YOUR holiday plans are going this year and welcome your comments. 

• Are you decorating more, less, or the same ?
• How/where are you spending the holidays ?
• Do you exchange gifts ?

ONE “tradition” we’re keeping is sending put holiday greetings – the old fashioned way – by mail. Thanks to the fellow bloggers who have emailed their names and home address to me. Our cards will be going out this week (the photo reprints were finally received).

IF any other fellow bloggers would like to participate in a card exchange, the details can be found here.

Friday Funnies

If the bears don’t get them first!

But remember . . .

Seen at . . .

Take a Moment

Amidst the pre-holiday hustle and bustle, some dates get “forgotten.”

Today, December 7, is the 70th anniversary of the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor (Hawaii).

According to an online site, the U.S. suffered these casualties, injuries and damages:

• 2,388  died in the attack
• 1,178  were wounded
• 21 ships were sunk or damaged
• 323  aircraft were destroyed or damaged
• 1,177 involved in the attack were serving on the USS Arizona
• 333 serving on the USS Arizona survived the attack

This 70th anniversary year will mark the disbanding of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association on Dec. 31. According to national president William H. Muehleib, the association is disbanding because of “the advanced age and ill health of our membership and the declining numbers of members.”

The formal disbanding announcement will be announced in a ceremony today at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, overlooking the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial with a moment of silence at 7:55 a.m. – 70 years to the minute from when the Japanese attack began.

Never forget.

Redesign Means Gone?

It’s NOT the penguins fault.

This time it’s Google Mail (Gmail) driving me a bit crazier than usual.

Gmail has a new design. Today, I found out that my mailbox contents were GONE – all GONE, saved emails too.

Normally, this wouldn’t be an issue, but in a post last week, I invited fellow bloggers who wanted to do a holiday card exchange the old-fashioned way (postal mail) to send me an email.

Several fellow bloggers responded and I saved their info in my Gmail account. But tonight there were NO emails in my Gmail !!!

BACKUPS are always a good thing as I’ve learned from past experiences. This weekend I had copied the card exchange info to a file on my computer.  To date,  these bloggers had replied: Artic View, Dancing with Daisy, Montanagirl, Wspersweetly of Cottages, Mamabug’s Nature Photos, and The Cottage by the Crane Lake.

IF anyone sent an email in the past day or so, it may be in Gmail never-never  land. So, please resend to the email address listed on my blog profile page. I’ll check my Gmail account later and hopefully will get it.

What’s this ALL about – here’s the “guidelines.”

• Post by snail-mail only (please)
• Include a photo of yourself, family to share
• Add a personal note (pretty please).

We’ll do the same which means you can “see” Grenville & Beatrice.

• Email Beatrice (check her blog profile page).
• Include your email, name, and mailing address.
• She will email back and provide OUR mailing address.

Santa Claus Came to Town

Santa came to our small town this weekend, but not in a sleigh powered by reindeer – but by train accompanied by Mrs. Claus and some helper elves. And, of course the train crew.

The Santa Train is an annual event in early December here on this part of the VA eastern shore.

The sign told him WHERE to stop.

Families gathered by the historic Onley Train Station to await his arrival. There were several stops ahead of ours. Thankfully the weather cooperated with clear skies, although snow would have been a nice touch.

Santa’s train was an hour behind schedule because of large turnouts in several towns preceding our stop. Still the crowds waited.

The Onley Station was decorated and ready for Santa and his entourage. Members of the Society for the Preservation of the Historic Onley Train Station (SPOTS) of which Grenville is a founding member, provided refreshments – hot chocolate, popcorn, and cookies. Members also decorated for Santa’s stay.

As soon as Santa was settled, the lineup started. Everyone wanted to be sure Santa knew what was on their “wish list.”

Eagerly they came one-by-one or in groups.

Mr. & Mrs. Claus  posed for pictures too.

After every child had talked to Santa and received a gift, it was time for the Santa Train to head to the last stop. Of course, that’s before Santa returns on Dec 24 using his traditional travel methods.

But not before wishing one and all . . .

Merry Christmas

 

Countdown Starts

Ready or not – 24 days ‘til Christmas !

Jumping for joy like the penguin or boggled like the frog?

Grenville and I are keeping Christmas simple this year with no presents for each other, just contributions to charities. BUT, we are sending holiday cards – the kind that come in the mail vs. electronic ones.  YES, we’re old-fashioned that way.

Want to exchange holiday greetings? 

• Post by mail only (please)
• Include a photo of yourself, family to share
• Add a personal note (pretty please).

In return, we’ll do the same AND you get to “see” Grenville & Beatrice – isn’t that worth the cost of postage? No need to answer that one. We’re curious to “see” you all.

HOW to do this?

• Email Beatrice (check her blog profile page).
• Include your email, name, and mailing address.
• She will email back and provide OUR mailing address.

If you decide to “opt out,” that’s OK.

Thanks for your visits and comments on our road trips, household inconveniences, gardening, food adventures, and joys of grandkids.

We hope your holidays are as stress-less as possible.