THE LION LIES DOWN WITH THE LAMB

It is a pre-Christmas miracle! Patti-Jo is nervous and excitable, and so Buddie, who is strict and sober does not like her much. But here they are both sharing the dog igloo. They have done this at least two different times lately. And it's not because we are short on dog houses. We had two doghouses for Carl and Patti-Jo, but then Buddie started spending most of her time over here, and sometimes taking one of the doghouses overnight. So we bought a third dog house, identical to our first one. But all three dogs avoided it, if possible, in favor of either of the other two dog houses. So now, Patti-Jo and Buddie usually set aside their differences to bunk together.

SEE THE FACE IN THE SKY?

Here's a funny photo. You'll have to enlarge it to see it properly. Just click on it. I should have cropped it, but failed to do so when I was first uploading this batch of photos from the camera to the computer a week or so ago, and now for some reason, I can't get it done.
I had noticed that Amy had the tree in the yard lit up, and the full moon was shining, so went out to get a shot. But when I clicked, clouds had covered the moon. I took a total of three shots but never did get the moon showing like I wanted to. It was cold, so I gave up rather quickly.

HAY FOR THE HORSES

Chuck has been scrambling for hay lately for the horses. This was maybe a couple of weeks ago when he brought some square bales home. Since then, they've eaten all of this, and have started on a large round bale.

No, they didn't ride up there, they just posed that way on the way to the horse pasture. When I was a child, my cousins and I got to ride on the hay in the back of a pick-up in the pasture pretty regularly. I can remember helping feed the cows, as a child, by throwing pieces of the bales off as the pick-up moved through the cow pasture. It was great fun!

This is Starlight and Ed. "YUM-O!", they nickered.

CHRISTMAS TREES AND ANGELS

Mathieu came over this afternoon and finished the angel he started the other day. Also on the fridge is the Christmas picture he made a couple of weeks ago. Cute all the way around!

CHUCK AND THE GIRLS

This is what it looks like, more or less, when Chuck leaves for the post office every day. Chuck calmed them down from their barking and pogo jumping while waiting for me to take the photo. Patti-Jo and Coconut go absolutely wild! They love their post office trip and can tell time, so remind Chuck, loudly, when it gets close to 9:30. You can see why Patti-Jo doesn't get many outfits, like Coconut does. Besides muddying this one up within about 3 minutes of wearing it, she scratches a hole (or in this case, scratched a button off, leaving a ripped hole) almost immediately upon first wearing any outfit. Still they look soooo sweet, don't they?!

LITTLE BY LITTLE

I am late with an angel paper doll swap I joined, but finally finished my angel last night. Yay, me! (Sort of...) Mathieu and Zach were here, so Mat worked on making an angel paper doll too. It is really cute. Hopefully, he will finish it today, and I can post a photo of it tomorrow.

The other photo is of two cell phone cases I made. I made one in late October or early November, and thought I had finished the second one, too. But when I took them out of the bag last night, I realized the other one still needed some stitching. Gosh, my eyes are not what they used to be. My stitching was awful last night; I could hardly see what I was doing. As much as I hate to, I am going to have to go back to the optomotrist soon. I am way past due.
I got some gifts wrapped last night, too. So I am making progress. Mathieu and I also helped me hung the second green garland around the kitchen windows.

WARM AND TOASTY

It's really been so much colder than usual for this time of year. Or what I should say, I guess, is that it has gotten cold earlier than usual. It is predicted to be a colder, wetter winter this time. We keep blankets handy to cover up with on the love seat and in the recliner. Coconut got a new sweater the other day. Tres chic, no?
Meanwhile, I am happily wearing flannel pjs around the house...sometimes with a zip front sweatshirt over them and thick, crocheted socks on my feet. Very UN-chic, but sooo comfy and toasty. I bought Chuck a pair of flannel pj bottoms and he's enjoying wearing them, too. I've never mined washing dishes, but I almost enjoy it now, with the warm water heating my hands.

FROZEN PUMPKINS

Patty-Jo and I took a look at the pumpkin vines that, sadly, did not make it through the snow and freeze the other day. I was really looking forward to my pumpkin harvest but, alas, it was apparently not meant to be.

Amazingly, I think I got all my Christmas gift shopping done today. I had lunch at Chisholm with Lydia and then went to Beeville with list in hand. Three or four hours later, I was back home with everything on the list! Of course, I think I will probably have to do a tiny bit of fine-tuning, but basically I am through!

BUFFALO CHICKEN DIP

Here is a recipe I got from an online friend. (*waving to Pat in Florida!*) She got rave reviews with it, and I did too, the first time I made it this past Halloween for my grown kids and their families and my husband and I. I also made it again last night for 'dinner'. Yes, it is just my husband and I and we can eat what we want...so
'chips and dip for dinner' this time. ...I said CAN not SHOULD. LOL!

BUFFALO CHICKEN DIP

4 BONELESS, SKINLESS CHICKEN BREASTS (about 2 lbs...or you can use rotisserie
chicken)

1 - 12 OZ. BOTTLE FRANK'S HOT SAUCE (supposed to be the best, but you can use
any brand)

2 - 8 OZ. PKGS. CREAM CHEESE

1 - 16 OZ. BOTTLE BLEU CHEESE SALAD DRESSING (or Ranch dressing)

8 OZ. SHREDDED SHARP CHEDDAR CHEESE (OR MONTERREY JACK OR COMBO)

Boil chicken till done, then shred using 2 forks. Preheat oven to 350*. In a 13"
x 9" pan combine chicken and hot sauce and spread evenly. In large saucepan over
medium heat, combine the cream cheese and dressing, stirring until smooth and
hot. Pour evenly over chicken. Bake uncovered for 20 minutes, sprinkle with
cheese and bake uncovered for another 10 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before
serving.

We eat it with tortilla chips, but that's up to you. Crackers or crustinis would
be good too, I think. It is not 'hot' with the hot sauce - at least with Frank's
(the teeniest bit warm in places) or some 'brand x' that I used last night, that was even milder than Frank's.

Anyway, I thought some of you might enjoy making it for Christmas or New Year's
get-togethers.

DECEMBER!

It's December already! I intended to try to post a photo every day for December, like I tried to do for October, but time got away from me. Here it is the 7th, and I am only making my first December entry. Oh, well...



It snowed, briefly, last Friday, I think it was! Actual flakes floating and drifting down from the sky! Of course, it melted almost immediately, but still, snow in South Texas is rare.



My sister, Jan, came to visit for a couple of days and we were kidding that I probably wouldn't get a single Christmas card to help in decorating the scrawny garland I hung over the living room windows, since I hadn't sent a card, myself, in 2-3 years. ;) HOWEVER, this photo is to prove her wrong! I did get a card the other day! (Thanks, Natalie!!!) It is hanging proudly - and lonesomely - in the center of the garland. Honestly, can this even be classified as a 'garland'? It is so skinny maybe it should be called a 'rope' or something. Anyway, sending and receiving Christmas cards is one of my favorite traditions, but for the past few years, I just have not had time to send the ones I have bought! Or I guess I should say 'made time' since I know I could get more done than I do, if I tried harder. ...Not that I do soooo much, but everything takes time....and space. Anyway, I am not sure if I will even try to send cards this year. Now with our money so tight, I am not sure about spending for postage. And there is so much going on with our Children's Religious Education department, that time is being crunched too. ...and, um... I also got a new video game and found a new online game that tends to crunch my time as well. But I do enjoy it all - Christmas traditions and intriguing, but time wasting, games.