Author: boomingbanter

We all had a good lie in this morning. They say turkey is soporific. Maybe that’s the reason or maybe it was what it was washed down with!

Black Friday is big business here. Years ago I’d have been up and out to get a load of bargains but all that rushing and pushing lost it luster.

Instead it’s the day to put up the tree and deck the halls. Seems we’re not alone her majesty did hers today too!

Aaron promised to help me get the tree put together as it drives me nuts. He was good to his word and got up and did it without any prodding while Scooby and I were out for our morning constitutional.

Scooby got in on the act of decorating and found himself a cosy spot on the hearth to snuggle. He was soon displaced by snowmen!

We were a bit concerned he’d have a go at the tree or some of the baubles but so far he’s been good as gold.

Krishna and Aaron took off shopping leaving me to handle the final touches.

Sure they would be away for hours and looking forward to a wee bit of time alone I was curled up with a big pot of tea watching Love Actually when they arrived back. Seems those offers were just not worth having we can only hope Santa snagged some for us instead.

Blessing #530 –  Santa’s All Around Us and So the Feeling Grows!

It’s hard not to miss Dibley today but we are blessed to have Scooby. He got his 10000 steps in early and we were back home in time for the start of the Macy’s Parade. The balloons including the new Snoopy flew albeit a little lower than usual

It’s a great part of thanksgiving especially if your nose can smell turkey roasting as you watch it!

There are so many big stars on the show and it’s funny to spot who does the best and worse lip syncing. When they’re really bad you can almost hear the director yelling « pan out «

The Radio City Rockettes always do one of the best spots. We were lucky, thanks to our dear friends Roger and Linda, to see their whole show once when my Mum came to Connecticut for Christmas.

All the Broadway shows get great coverage and the one that really stood out today is Tina Turners life story called what else but TINA! What a woman she is. Hard to imagine she turned 80 on Tuesday! Certainly this show is no Turkey!

Blessing # 529 – Simply the BEST!

Scooby and I decided to get our walk in early this morning before the gales started. We set off shortly after dawn and were about half a mile from home when the heavens opened.

It poured so much we were both soaked to the skin. Several people stopped their cars to say how brave we were but it wasn’t cold and we were both enjoying ourselves. Dibley wouldn’t even stick his nose out in the rain but Scooby doesn’t give a hoot. He’ll just keep on trucking.

When we got home since he was already dripping it was time for a bath in the laundry room sink. No problem at all getting the lad in there and he stands like a big brave getting all soaped up. When his hair is sticking to his body he looks a bit like a greyhound. Certainly he has chasing fast moving objects in his blood.

The weather forecasters were spot on with their predictions of high winds. Just as they said at ten o’clock things took off. Trees were stripped of remaining leaves and being trash collection day for our area bins and rubbish took off too.

Scooby by now was well dried off but on his midday outing that wind sure whipped up his fluff. He is so light and bright he blends right in with the carpet.

There are some anxious people keeping their fingers crossed this stops before tomorrow morning when the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade takes place. For the first time in fifty years the famous balloons may not be allowed to fly.

Just in case though they have started the inflation process. Seems that Snoopy like Scooby is all blown up!

Blessing # 528 – Rain or Shine Friend of Mine

The Thanksgiving weather forecasts across the USA have been headline news for the past few days. No matter where you are in the country you’ll be hit by something. For some it will be feet of snow for others torrents of rain. For us it’s not too bad just powerful winds up to 50 mph!

Since today was calm and a balmy  60F / 15 C it was the time to get the outside lights up. Hanging around could mean perishing in cold or getting soaked in pouring rain.

The installation is always done with so much more enthusiasm than the take down. Even when you get wire tangles and branch scratches and fused bulbs and head bumps it’s all part of the fun.

Some of our neighbors hire professionals to put their lights up and they are truly beautiful. The end result looks like something from a movie and we enjoy them very much. They probably don’t think much of our efforts but I’m happy enough with our little show especially when I see it through the front door side window.

That little bit of deflection or is it diffusion makes those lights look so spectacular. Makes you think what else surrounds us out there in this big universe that we just don’t see.

Blessing # 527 – Splendor of Light

There are few things that are more Christmasy than candles. They take us back to all those Dickensian tales that bedeck Christmas Cards galore. Who’d want to live back then though unless you were of the nobility!

Candles were probably around on the very first Christmas as they are believed to predate Jesus by about 500 years. Some were made from animal tallow others from beeswax but those that intrigue me most are the cinnamon derived varieties the ancient people of India used in their temples. Can you imagine how wonderful that would smell.

Today we can buy candles for next to nothing at places like IKEA. They come in all shapes and sizes and smells.

Unlike bygone days when Chandlers had their own guild there is absolutely no need to make a candle yourself unless your a nutter like me.

After months of collecting little bits of leftover wax today was candle making day. The five little critters turned out OK. They’re by no means perfect. All are different but each one was made with love and will go to some very special people who are lights in my life.

Blessing # 526 – Illuminations

Beauty parlors get real busy this time of year as everyone wants to look their best for the Christmas Party Pics.

Today a new trend crossed my path that you more up to the minute souls may already have tried or seen.

Its called Christmas Tree Hair. Would you try it? My hair is just about long enough to give it a go so you never know what you might see soon.

Beehive hairdos always remind me of my teenage years working at Mauds Hairdressing Salon in the heart of working class West Belfast.

We had many ladies who came in each week to get their hair “put up”. My job as the washer was to take apart the work of the previous week. The hair had been held together with tons of hairpins and gallons of hairspray. If you can imagine the texture of candy floss combined with the harshness of a Brillo pad that’s just what it felt like to touch!

Took quite a lot of shampoo and conditioner to get it a comb through it but the patience and efforts were always richly rewarded with big tips.

The ladies of the time took their inspiration from TV and movie stars the most popular in the UK being Elsie Tanner of Coronation Street fame. She was kinda edgy as  we’d say today so my Mum would never have had her hair done like this. You had to be a sexy sort to spray such style!

Those ladies were all great characters and truly adorable. They were funny and honest and generous and so very real. I loved them so much and learned so much more from them than which hairspray had the strongest hold! Their stories would make even the straightest hair curl and they didn’t give a hoot who heard them!

Blessing # 525 – Educators

This morning I nearly had an unplanned extra sleep.

After Zumba Scooby and I left for our long Saturday walk. In theory any day could mean a long walk but the weekend’s the weekend for walking whether you work all week or not.

We set out in the sun armed with many poop bags. Scooby made his first stop close to home and appropriately it was at a stop sign!

Now, being a posh part of the world our neighborhood doesn’t have your regular run of the mill stop signs. Instead they have these special blend in with nature types that are quite low to the ground.

So taken was I with tying up the good work that had been done I walk head first into the stop sign and literally bounced off it.

It was one of those moments when your first reaction is to look all around to be sure no one saw how stupid you are.

Once that’s been clarified and you can put your red face away the next point is to determine if you are likely to faint in which case a spectator might come in handy.

Next up you thank your lucky stars some of which you are seeing that you didn’t break your  fancy specs and finally you ask what the heck was that all about and tell yourself to keep your eyes forward and forget the fact you have a load of **** to deal with.

Blessing # 524 – Hard Headed

When I was at Laura’s last weekend she had a music station playing in the background through her cable TV. There was a great selection of tunes ideal for parties from really traditional Carols to this years latest hits.

Of course I wasn’t smart enough to even think to look for this on our cable at home but you can bet it was the first thing I did when I got back. We’re all set. For those local in Spectrum who may also not have been in the know it’s on 941.

So since the turkey is home and thawing in the fridge for Thanksgiving it’s time to blast a few tunes. You can’t beat a good Jingle Bell Rock especially on a Friday evening.

There are some great new songs out there too! Have you heard “When We Are Together” For sure I’ve been leading a sheltered life because I hadn’t and had no idea there were Tenors out there who look this hot!

While the music is playing the station tempts you with lots of pics of food and also provides some fun facts that could come in handy for festive small talk.

Did you know that the first commercial Christmas Trees were made from toilet brushes? Not exactly the same feel good factor as going out in the forest and chopping one down!

Blessing # 523 – Just In Time Disco

When the countdown is on you gotta start planning. Making the lists checking them twice grocery of course and the odd present too!

Since sales in my little stall have been horrendous this month there will be a few gifts coming from there. If you don’t sell then wrap!

What are your must have things to make Christmas feel like Christmas?

One of ours is Terry’s Chocolate Oranges in our stockings. Usually I got these in the UK and hide them till the big ONE SLEEP day arrives. Since no trip is planned this year before the big man in the red suit comes down the chimney I’ll have to hunt them out locally.

There are sites now where you can order British Specialty items that could be used as a last resort. I’ve been lucky getting things like Mincemeat at World Foods. Maybe they’ll have the oranges too.

Aldi helps a lot. I’ve already got another traditional item there Aaron’s chocolate money. They have those Belgium shell things and German truffles too. Hope they’ll bring in some British selection boxes too because they are fun but when it comes to oranges only original ones will do.

The Christmas pudding is all sorted as it’s been lying here for the past two or three years! Will be like a fine wine by now. Well settled and matured. Which makes me think I’ll need some Branson pickle to go with that cheddar too!

Blessing # 522 – Naughty & Nice

Five weeks till Christmas or as many kids now say just 35 sleeps. Chance of diet success is slim!

Out around our neighborhood and today in the center of town too the Christmas decorations are going up. When you have a mild day like today it’s tempting to put them up but Aaron has promised to help me if I wait at least nine more sleeps till after Thanksgiving.

Last night I didn’t sleep well at all. Maybe it was because Scooby decided he was going to lie on the floor rather than at my feet. Who knows why dogs choose to do what they do but being bed warmers is one of their greatest gifts.

Our pets little acts of love are so endearing and it’s well known that’s good for our health. They also do things that are puzzling.

One thing that Scooby does that none of our other dogs has ever done is lift his right front paw when he’s investigating something. He does this on almost every outing when he hears or sees something in the distance. It’s almost like he is thinking.

Of course not knowing what this was I did what most people do these days and googled the behavior. Would you believe the photo that showed up! Looks like the lad himself. Turns out this is a behavior that is much sought after in hunting dogs like pointers. They are showing their master where the prey is. Maybe we’re getting a little closer to his first family roots. We sure are glad he’s part of our now!

Blessing # 521– In the Genes