5 Question Friday

1. What's the oldest piece of clothing in your closet?

Really? The very oldest....I may have to run and look.  My wardrobe is PATHETIC!!! 

Wow..I see 2 things...and they are old!  Like 1995 old!!!  How do I know, you ask?  I bought those items with my hard earned nanny cash back in the days of living on Long Island.
And I...um..still wear one out.  As in outside of the house;to church, to the movies NOT "out on the town" as in prowling, whoopin' it up.  Just to clarify in case you were confused? 
   


Would you be surprise to learn they're both for my upper half?   

I know,  SURPRISE...not really. 
That's what child bearing did to me..oh and chip mint ice cream....and dark chocolate....and aging. 
So is life, I'm not losing sleep over it.

2. How many random blog readers have you met?

I tend to stalk more than comment.  BUT on occasion, when I read a post I can truly relate with, I throw out a comment.

      

3. Do you let your kids stay up till midnight on New Years Eve? (Or, if you don't have kiddos yet, did you get to stay up until midnight as a child?)

We have let the kiddos stay up until midnight the last couple of years.  Read here on how our New Year's celebrations have changed.

http://davisherd.blogspot.com/2011/01/new-years.html

4. What are the gas prices where you live?

$3.03. 

5. What is one resolution that you know you should do but are too afraid to try?

Nothing crazy....but I would like to be a non soda drinker and give up most sweets. I just CAN'T give up that one can of pop a day!  But maybe I will try again?  

GIFTS

This time of year it's all too easy to become wrapped up in the did I spend enough or what I want part of the Christmas holiday. As a mother of 3 children I've struggled with if it is best for them to each have the same number of gifts to open or more fair to have the same amount of total money spent on them; regardless, of the number of packages?

As I've done my best to teach my boys it's better to give than to receive and the reason for the season I've also decided to not solely focus on the gifts under the tree but the gifts from the heart that we often look over.

Honestly, I can recall very few of the gifts I have opened over the years. When I think back to Christmas' past I see the most heartwarming gifts were not wrapped packages at all. The things that bring true joy to my heart are the Christmas Day hugs from a brother or sister, the laughter of an aging parent/grandparent and the wondrous expressions/giggles of the children.

Here is to hoping you receive an abundance of heartwarming gifts this holiday season!

5 Question Friday

1. What's the best Christmas present you've ever received?

Dad decided one BIG gift was the way to do Christmas approximately five years ago.  BIG it was! He flew my family of 5 and my siblings along with their fams to Miami where we boarded a big ole' cruise ship. Cruise we did.....what a blast!! My kids STILL talk about it!!   

2. Worst/Funniest White Elephant gift ever receive

Surprisingly I have never been part of a White Elephant gift exchange but I do remember being a teen and unwrapping a festive Scottish Terrier sweater vest from my grandma.  I'm pretty sure I didn't sound legit with my, "Thank you, Grandma. I LOVE IT!"  

**Sweater vests really didn't "rock it" with my banana clips........     

3. Is your Christmas tree plain and simple (white lights and matching ornaments) or is it wild and crazy (colored lights with lots of ornaments collected over the years)?

 Wild, crazy and this year leaning forward.  We're just hoping it doesn't crash before the BIG day. 

4. "How" do you iron your clothes? The old fashioned iron/ironing board way, the shower, back in the dryer, etc.

 Simple!

I DO NOT iron!

5. How much baking do you do for Christmas and what are your "must make" items? (I'm looking for recipes here, peeps...)

 Party mix, sugar cookies, peppermint bark, caramels, fudge, pretzels dipped in white chocolate and decorated with sprinkles, swedish oatmeal cookies and every Christmas morning......monkey bread.

Table Talk

Another round of table talk.

Last night Lil' Cowpoke told the story of how he saved his friend from being kissed by a girl at recess.

Really, I thought.  You're in second grade!

Me: What were your teachers doing?

Lil' Cowpoke: Looking the other way.
"Girlfriend" was pushing "smoochy girl" toward "friend" and I slid my hand in like this(handshake form).....just in time to save him from being kissed!

Me: So, did "smoochy girl" kiss your hand then?

Lil' Cowpoke: Yep, NO! NO! My GLOVE, my GLOVE!  I had my gloves on!

Laughter........much laughter!

I love Columbia!

Over the past couple of weeks I've been digging for winter coats, gloves, and hats.  It's that time of year again in the heartland. Besides the tough Carhartt coat that is needed for the daily chore routine here on the farm I've chosen to invest in the Columbia coat for my cowpoke as school coats (life off the farm coats) because of their warmth and durability. I've justified spending a little more moo-lah on the quality item because with 3 cowpoke I can often pass them on down the line getting the goody out of the sweet investment.
Last year Dexter's not so old Columbia(1.5 years) coat blew the zipper.  He was beginning to out grow the coat and it was the dead of winter.  A new Columbia coat was purchased for him and the broken one was thrown into storage.  When I came across the broken zippered parka this year I considered pitching it, or attempting to put a new zipper in....the coat was in perfect condition otherwise.  The job appeared to be above my sewing abilities so before tossing it I decided to send Columbia an email. 

• On a Friday night I sent Columbia an email.
• Columbia responded Monday.
• I mailed the coat and all parts(detachable hood) off for inspection....no receipt.
• Sat back to wait...could possibly take four weeks.
• They had the coat back to me within 2 weeks-new zipper in place!  It's like a brand new coat!

I LOVE COLUMBIA!

I love Columbia because they stand behind their products.
I love Columbia because they are made in Portland, Oregon-USA!

5 Question Friday

1. Do you have a go to song that always puts you in a good mood?

I have a few... I LOVE Francessca Battistelli I'm Letting Go or Toby Mac Get Back Up or Brandon Heath Give Me Your Eyes or the all time favorite.....Bryan Adams Summer of 69.

2. Are you a real Christmas tree kinda person or do you go with a real fake one?

I'm ALL about a fake one.  Only because that is all I know. Honestly, I do not remember ever having a real tree? But I do buy a real Christmas wreath.  Does that count?      

3. What are you thankful for?

Everyday. Faith. Family. Friends. Health. Shelter. Freedom.  This list could go forever......

4. Which fashion fad from the past do you wish you could wear today?

I used to LOVE my banana clips....such an effortless hairdo.
   

5. Do you wait until the "low fuel" light comes on before you fill up the gas tank?

Everytime!  It TOTALLY frustrates me hubby.  So sorry.  But I like to make the trip worth it. Do you buy a half a bottle of pop?  Exactly! 

I did scare myself the other day, however.  I didn't even realize the "low fuel light" was on. It's SO the "NORM" for me. When I DID happen to NOTICE the little orange light my little screen read: DTE 9 miles.  Luckily I was less than 3 miles from the gas station.  I've driven many miles watching that thing count down....so far I've always made it to the station before the dreaded DTE O miles! Whew.....CrAzY I Know!  

On my nitestand

Last week as I wandered through the Christian bookstore this novel jumped into my hands. Although my intentions were shopping for others I KNEW I could not put this book back on the shelf. 

Now, I sit here at my computer and attempt to share the novel with you in my own words. I'm struggling and can not come close to describing the plot the way the author does.  So, I have decided to cheat....is this legal?

Perhaps you will feel as compelled to read the book as I did? You SHOULD put it on your 2011 Christmas wishlist, don't you think?

Nobody’s Child by Austin Boyd        

Unprecedented choices never intended by heaven . . . unintended consequences never before seen on earth
Brace yourself for this gripping introduction to The Pandora Files—a new series of biotech suspense novels by award-winning techno-thriller author Austin Boyd.
Experience the trials of Laura Ann McGehee—Determined to honor her father’s dying request, the young West Virginia woman will do whatever it takes to save the family farm, including using the one remaining financial resource she has—her body.
Meet Sophia McQuistion—Thanks to the unusual sacrifice of a woman she has never met, she carries the child she could never conceive. Walk in the shoes of Ian Stewart—In Laura Ann’s time of need, he’s more than just a close friend. He is a source of grace, a man who loves Laura Ann through her many trials.
When unusual circumstances place Sophia’s baby in Laura Ann’s care, Laura Ann is now the virgin mother of her own biological son. The media call him “Nobody’s Child.” But somebody wants him badly enough to steal the baby. What price will a mother pay to save her only son?
Weaving together bioethics and faith, Nobody’s Child dramatizes a future that is already upon us with consequences we can no longer avoid.