Friday, December 31, 2010

Getting ready for some fun!

It's New Years Eve and we are aiming to have some fun! Our kids will be here....we will play games and eat =) Scott loves to play games and has a hard time getting anyone to join him. Not because we don't like to play them but because we often don't feel like it. So tonight we will be ready for whatever he has up his sleeve! I hear he has purchased some new games plus he has some new-fangled xbox game too. I already ordered the pizza and wings to be picked up later from Two Cousin's. Fun? You bet!!

Happy New Year to all my friends!

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Two Special Days this week

We observed two special days this week. They always happen right after Christmas. And they mostly happen with out much fanfare because it's right after Christmas! But they do deserve more than they got this year....so far!

On Monday, December 27  my husband had a birthday. He is now 57. His day consisted of working as usual. It was a very cold and very windy day. Neither of us felt like going out. So I made hot dogs and baked mac and cheese! How's that for a birthday supper?!!

The next day, Tuesday, December 28, was our 37th wedding anniversary! Yes, Hubby turned 20 the day before we got married. I was still 19! Yes, I know that is VERY young! I kept our sweet babies that day so we didn't eat out again. But we will....

Greta and Lynn gave us a wonderful gift card to my favorite restaurant....JB Dawson's. They have the best food and the best service. I love eating there! It's a bit more costly than some places so we don't go often....which is even less since I became unemployed. Maybe next week-end we will make a date night and celebrate with a wonderful meal that neither of us had to prepare =)

I was trying to find a photo of the two of us.
This will have to do....
taken at our son's wedding 4 years ago.
That was a happy day, indeed!

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Favorite Memories of Christmas 2010

These are a few of my favorite memories....

Gift Wrapping job at Boscov's -
  • Wrapping a diamond solitaire ring for an elderly man to give to his wife. He said she always wanted one and she was getting one!
  • A sweet couple (maybe in their late 60's) bringing their bags to my table. They each had a gift to be wrapped that the other one was not to see. So the wife stepped away from the table while I wrapped a beautiful long white nightgown and robe set. Then he stepped away. I started to fold the sweater she was giving him when he came back to the table! I quickly covered it with the box. He said to his wife "where am I to go"? She told him to go over there and sit down. And she rolled her eyes as if to say, 'MEN'!! I smiled and tied not to laugh !
  • Another sweet older couple came to have their gifts wrapped. She was telling me how thrilled they were to find things for their family at such good prices. She explained, as I was wrapping, that Social Security didn't go up and pensions decreasing (I was only half listening to all that), all the joys of a fixed income. Then she told me how her daughter must have instructed the kids not to ask them for presents this year. They were somewhere and the little girl started telling them what she would like .....the little boy quickly stopped her saying "you're not to ask for anything because Grandpa is fixed"!!!!! I laughed and laughed and chuckled some more. She said she thinks she will put this on her hubby's headstone....He was Fixed!!
Before Christmas Day -
  • Going in the van with Hubby, Ellen and Greta to pick out a Christmas tree....a real one! It was a cold night. We stopped at McD's for a treat before going home!
  • Singing at PV the Sunday before Christmas. Hearing Larry say as soon as he saw me "There's Doris from the Forrest"! He was always rhyming. That was his favorite greeting for me. When he said it after he had not seen me for 7 months, I knew he hadn't forgotten me....talk about a warm fuzzy feeling!
  • Harmonizing with Merle and Paul on the worship team at church. Oh Holy Night, Go tell it on the Mountain, Silent Night......singing again at church is a blessing after too many years of too busy for things I love.
  • Watching several Christmas movies on Hallmark and Lifetime (I'm still watching them!)
  • How could I have forgotten to include this one! Christmas Eve, sitting in the car with Hubby and Ellen while watching the most AMAZING light show I have ever seen! It was at a private residence where they had lights on the house and roof and in the lawn and wreaths on the windows and shooting stars that went across the lawn! All this was set to music, fabulous Christmas music. The wreaths would change colors, the lights in the lawn would change shapes and colors ...... We sat there for more than 30 min.....Ellen couldn't get over how awesome it was.
Christmas Day -
  • Watching my girls open their gifts
  • Having Gina and Joe here for the day!!!!!!
  • Hearing our 2 year old Aidan say Grace before our meal =) He thanked Jesus for the food then he said several more sentences...not sure of the words but our Lord knows and I am certain they blessed Him as much as it did us!!
  • Cracking up at first sight of Scott in the Santa snuggie!

  • Pop Pop bringing Zoe to me to say hi as I was busy in the kitchen preparing the meal....she reached out to come to me and snuggled. Ahhh.....
  • Paityn asking if we can open presents NOW?!!
  • Christy shaking, sniffing (!) available gifts before choosing one in the Now you Have it game!


  • The soft welcome of my bed after a wonderful family day.
Memories are a wonderful thing!

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Two *family favorite* Recipes

Theresa asked for the Baked Corn recipe I mentioned in the picture post of Christmas Day. I have used this recipe for more years than I can count ! It came from a local Farm Women cookbook, I think. I no longer have it in the book so I'm not sure which one it came from!

Baked Corn
1 cup corn
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
1 T melted butter
3/4 T cornstarch
1 T sugar (can use less)
salt and pepper to taste

I put everything in my food processor, except for the butter, and process only long enough to break up the corn a bit. Pour into a small greased dish, stir in melted butter and bake at 350 degrees for an hour or till firm. Serves 3-4.

When I make this for my family Christmas meal, I use about 10 cups of corn. I like Weis white corn but homegrown corn is better than anything! I don't happen to have any in my freezer.


I have been making this Punch recipe for many years. I got it from the Dec/Jan. 1997 issue of Taste of Home magazine. My family loves it.

Sherbet Punch
1/2 gallon sherbet, softened (I use a seedless raspberry or lime)
1 liter ginger ale
2 cups lemon-lime soda
2 cups grapefruit or citrus soda

Just before serving, place sherbet in a punch bowl. Add ginger ale and soda. Stir until sherbet is almost dissolved.
Yield: 4 1/2 quarts

Monday, December 27, 2010

Christmas Pictures, part II

After we finished eating, we cleared the table, took out the leaves and pushed the table to one end of the room. All this is necessary to make room for our big family circle. The little ones were so ready to get some gifts! 

Getting ready to open gifts.
Scott bought this Santa snuggie which provided many laughs!

Ellen helps Zoe open a gift.

Aidan LOVES his helmet and shirt!

Andrew, the Cowboys fan, gets a snuggie from Nana and Pop Pop.

Paityn opens a gift from Nana and Pop Pop.
Princess shoes and a tiara!

Our little Sweetie Pie!

A game to keep at Nana and Pop Pop's house.


Aidan tries to walk in a pair of Paityn's princess shoes.
He also wanted to wear the tiara!

We also played a game of Now you Have it, Now you Don't. I had purchased inexpensive gifts that I wrapped. After all the numbers were called, they could open the gift they chose to keep. One gift had more value than the others. Corey was thrilled to get that one; a $10 bill tucked into a small Christmas Tree box. I have a few pictures taken during the game but blogger is giving me too many headaches! I gave up trying to upload more pictures!

I plan to take it easy today. We didn't get much snow. But it is extremely windy and oh so cold!

Have a great day.....stay warm!

Christmas Day 2010 Pictures

Ellen loves the green sweater from Greta


Ellen gives a gift to Greta

I needed a new crock pot
since I broke the lid to my old one.
I made the baked corn in this for our dinner =)

Ellen tries on her new coat....
she likes it and it fits perfectly!

Dale checks out one of his gifts.

Gina and Joe arrived around 1:30.
They made great time because the traffic was light.

Waiting for the dinner to be served.

Dinner is served!!
The table is as big as it will be...
and we fill it! (and the room!)

Marcy helps herself to baked corn.

Sour cream mashed potatoes....
Zoe is liking them!
Isn't Aidan's expression interesting?!!

I guess that will be it for now. I was so happy to be able to post.....then a picture I wanted to upload from MY file said I didn't have the right to post it!!! I now get the Google cloud- something- or- other (again) which won't let me access my pictures.... because there's an error when I click to open it. Why it comes up as that, I don't know.....so frustrating!!!

I'll keep trying......

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Christmas Day 2010

We had a wonderful day. I have been trying to post pictures.....not sure why it's not working. Bummer! I posted a lot on Facebook. If you want to be my friend so you can see them, just ask =) I'll try again tomorrow.

It's snowing here and is windy. I don't think we have too much accumulation. How nice to not be concerned about going  to work on snowy roads....... because I don't need to go to work!

Have a wonderful evening.

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Merry Christmas!

It's December 25, 2010.......Merry Christmas!

May all your dreams come true....

Remember the greatest gift of all.....

The Reason for the Season....
Jesus!

A Blessed Christmas be Yours!

From the Fahnestock family    ~
Dale and Doris
Kimberly, Manny, Laurencia, Andrew
Marcy, Scott, Paityn
Corey, Christy, Aidan, Zoe
Greta, Lynn
Gina, Joe
Ellen

Friday, December 24, 2010

Not dead....just busy!

Just in case you were wondering =)

I wrapped up the gift wrapping job at 1 today.....
Treated myself to a Berry Smoothie at the mall....
Made a stop at the grocery store for a few things.....
Collapsed on the sofa for a little bit....
Changed into work clothes and got to work at home!


So I'm drinking a cup of coffee and taking a break. I'm watching an old movie on TV....can't remember the title but Judy Garland is in it. When the cleaning is complete, we will go for a drive to look at Christmas lights. I would love to go to a Christmas Eve service, but I'm too tired to be sociable! Sad but true.

I had a blast with the gift wrapping job but my feet, legs and right hip have had enough! I will be so happy to prop up my feet till they recover.....after the cleaning is complete tonight =)

 This has been a very different year for me. Discovering the joy of blogging has certainly been a highlight. I value each of my readers....even those who read that I am unaware of!

Merry Christmas, my friends!

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

I did it again!

This is what I found on my nightstand this morning.....

Yes, I made my tea last night, sat it on the nightstand, climbed into bed.
I went to sleep
and didn't even take a sip of the tea!



I guess I really was tired! I had worked an 8 hr. shift wrapping gifts (on my feet the entire time. Had a half hour break but that was in addition to the 8 hrs.), then met Greta who brought Ellen to the mall. Ellen had a Doctor appointment in York at 5. After the appointment we headed to the York Mall to do some shopping. We arrived home at 8:30 and  I propped up my tired and swollen feet! 

Today I'm doing laundry and some housework. The grocery store is on my to do 'list'. Aidan and Zoe will be here around 1p.

Christmas is coming. There are some things I wanted to do this year but will be left undone....again. I want my kids and grands to have pleasant memories....not rushed ones. I gave them enough of that in years past when I was working...too much.

Have a wonderful day!

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Sunday Morning

What a Sunday morning it was! Several weeks ago I got a phone call from the Pastor's wife at the Retirement Community where I had worked for 15 years. She said the residents were wanting me to come and sing for them at a Sunday morning service, something I had done many times while employed there We decided on December 19.

 I had not been to the facility since I ended my employment in May. It was so good to see many of my friends, both residents and staff. I was excited to see the full-time receptionist who is going to be a Nana for the first time in March. She couldn't wait to tell me. I got hugs from 2 of my former staff persons and many others. I was able to chat with many residents. One gentleman greeted me with 'There's Doris from the forest!' I told him I have been waiting for that greeting! Another resident told me about her sister passing away and now it is only she that is left in her family. I told her I had seen in the newspaper that her sister had passed and that I prayed for her. I knew she would be so sad.

So many people whom I love and miss! I was honored by the love I was shown this morning. When Dorothy calls to ask again, which she said she will, I will certainly say yes.

Friday, December 17, 2010

Slept like a baby!

Too much caffeine is not a good thing for me. On the previous post I wrote of how it kept me awake for most of the night. Yesterday I only had coffee in the morning and it was water the rest of the day. I was a tired girl last night  when I went to bed. I made my cup of tea and climbed under the covers.

I slept. So good that I never even took a sip of that cup of tea! I found it on the night stand this morning untouched.

Oh how rested I feel this morning! Hope you feel the same =)

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Coffee and Tea

I love them both! Yesterday after my gift wrapping at Boscov's I bought a cup on Pumpkin Spice Latte and did some shopping. Coffee keeps me going! I had two $15 off $15 coupons from Penney's that I wanted to use. Did I ever make out great with those! One purchase was for others and one was for me. I got a nice pair of black slacks and a Liz top for a little over $9....they also had a special 15% off if using my Penney's card!

When I looked to see what time it was, it was already after 5:30. I couldn't believe it! I needed to go to the grocery store too. But I was starving hungry. I decided to stop at McD's to pick up supper for the family. Not a fan but it is quick....and I was really, really hungry. I chose unsweetened iced tea for my drink. It is good but a bad choice for an evening beverage.

 I could not sleep!

So today I feel like I'm in a fog. It is soooo good I do not keep my little ones today! I never did get to the grocery store. But I must....so up and at em! One foot in front of the other! Eyes open, sorta.

Have a great day! (I'm working towards that goal!)

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

It's beginning to look like Christmas!

The table looks better.
But as you can see, it's almost impossible
 to have it completely cleared of stuff!


The tree is still a work in progress.
It is way bigger than our fake one
so I have an empty looking tree.
BUT, we made a daughter very happy by having a real tree =)
(I forgot to fix the photos in Picasa before posting...color isn't very good)


Display on the hutch

This Manger Scene came from Avon.
I bought the pieces in the late 70's and in the 80's.
Last year the Angel broke.
The book you see in the background was from Marcy and Scott
 2 years ago.
Scott collected the photos of Paityn's first year and wrote
 fantastic captions and stories.
It is a treasure!

Oops, I didn't notice the red tree is falling off the tin!


The snowman came from Kmart several years ago.
It changes colors.....very festive!
I bought the little Nutcrackers this year at Michael's.
I used then at the Women's Brunch.
They are the perfect size for little ones to play with.


The glass figures aren't showing up too good.
I got them at a thrift store last year.

We have a very talented young artist at our church.
He did this for us in 2006.
I love it!

This is what it looks like outside today.
It is soooo cold and windy!
(I really do not like cold and windy!)

My little ones will soon arrive. It will be a good day. I hope you are experiencing a good day too!

Monday, December 13, 2010

Losing things, late starts and such

All was going good this morning....I called Ellen, warmed up her breakfast, stirred her chocolate milk, called her again, started reading the morning news. Dale was getting his things ready for work. He went to get his phone off the charger and....it wasn't there! I told him I saw the charger plugged in last night. No phone was on it so I unplugged it. We were on a hunt for the phone. We looked everywhere. Didn't find it. He went to work, Ellen went to school and I showered and went to work too. Greta was still sleeping.

I got to the gift wrapping station when all of a sudden, there was Greta walking by! I wasn't sure what her schedule was but I knew she had been in bed when I left the house! Oh no, she did it again! Her alarm didn't go off, again. On Saturday morning she came running down the steps 'shouting' - I was to be at work a half hour ago!!  Oh my! She will buy a new alarm clock today.

The lost phone was troubling me and Hubby too. Where could it be? My afternoon found me doing several errands...a long story. On one of my trips, I phoned Marcy to ask Paityn if she did something with the phone and to look through their bag they had  yesterday. Marcy called me back. Paityn said she put it in the sofa in the living room. But she says that a lot when they are looking for things. I got home just before Hubby. He had been home over lunch looking for it. He wondered if I found it yet. We took the sofa (sleeper sofa) apart, looked under it, behind it. No phone. He took my phone to ring his again (although he thought if it was charged, it was on vibrate). I went to the laundry room to look (again!). I moved a bag of trash I put there yesterday. Turned to walk away...but something caught my eye. I looked down and. there. it. was!!! Hubby was ringing it and the light on the front was on. That's what caught my eye! I'm sure I moved that bag this morning. Was it there then? Who knows. What a relief. What an answer to prayer!

So Hubby and I are relaxing tonight. I made a Christmas gift purchase on line and am watching a Christmas movie on Hallmark. I will soon make some tea and head to bed. Some days go along with nary a trouble and some days do not. I guess that's what Life is all about.

I hope your day was.....well, less crazy than mine!

* I should add that the phone we were looking for is his work phone.....bought and paid for by his boss. The urgency we felt to find it was great =)

Saturday, December 11, 2010

A busy week

It has been a busy week. Today is clean up day around the house. And decorating for Christmas. Yeah!

This is the first clean up of the day....

Ahhh, dirty dishes.....
My dishwasher is me...


Next clean up project.....
I tried several times this week to clear this table.
I was not successful =)

Our first real tree in years!
I hope to have it decorated by this afternoon.

Hubby is helping Corey with some projects at their house today. Then we will get ourselves all gussied up for his Christmas Party tonight. We're going to a restaurant we have not been to before....I don't remember the name! (But we do know where it is!) It's sure to be a good time. Hubby has a wonderful boss.

Have a great and productive Saturday!

Friday, December 10, 2010

Aidan, the Photographer

Photos through the eyes of a 2 yr. old...........

Nana helped me with this one....
Hi, Baby!

Oops, I guess I need to figure out how to
keep my fingers out of the photo!

Neat, a shot of my shoe!

I'm new at this...but not bad for a 2 yr. old, don't you think?

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Shopping!

Wednesday, Decemmber 8....
I  bought some gifts today! Feels good to be on my way to the goal of getting it done by December 25. Now, if only we had some decorations completed and the tree up................I did put this little tree up on Saturday. Dale wondered if this was our tree this year =) Uh, Noooo!!! Our little ones have a hard time letting it alone (thus the ragged look).



I keep the little ones again tomorrow. Later I will have dinner with my friends from where I worked for 15 years. They were the best co-workers a gal could have.

Didn't get this finished and posted Wednesday evening.....
It's now Thursday afternoon. I had a change of plans this morning. Corey called and wondered if I had any special plans today. I didn't except for getting things done around the house before the children came. He said Christy was sick and could use me as soon as possible! Ok.... I showered and got myself over there. I have the kids at my house now.

Corey was sick yesterday, only worked a few hours yesterday morning. He had to go in to work this morning.

Aidan is taking pictures with my camera. I will see what he captured and post some later =)

Have a wonderful day!

Monday, December 6, 2010

Busy days, COLD days (and nights)

Oh. My. Word! It is so cold outside. And windy too which makes it worse. But let's start with my day.....

I wrapped gifts today starting at 9 AM. It started off with a bang and never let up all day.  I took a lunch break sometime before 2 but didn't have much of a chance to sit. I needed to go to the bank during my break and had to wait to be helped. I bought a cup of coffee and a muffin, went to the break room at Boscov's to sit all of 10 min.!! Oh well, the day went fast and I love hearing the stories people share. I also heard, again and again, the appreciation for the gift wrapping service,  the appreciation of the selection and cost of the merchandise available and the appreciation of Mr. Boscov (Al is his name, I think) who came out of retirement to take this store chain out of certain bankruptcy to being a profitable business again.

Tonight we treated ourselves to dinner at Lititz Family Cupboard. I was so tired from my busy day. Just didn't have it in me to make a meal. Hubby needed to pick up his work van from the shop which serviced it today while he was serving jury duty at the Lancaster Courthouse. He doesn't have to go back tomorrow.....that works out for him and his boss. They are really busy and not having Dale on the job throws things for a loop. So, on the way to pick up the van we had our dinner prepared and served to us. Nice! We don't eat out often so it's always a treat. I had a chicken pot-pie, the PA Dutch kind. It was so good. Warmed me up inside!

Now,  I'm home again, wrapped up in a warm fuzzy blanket while the wind blows outside. There is no lack of things to do....but for now, I'm staying right here. My eyes are getting heavy.......I feel a snooze coming......

Have a great evening!

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Christmas Brunch

Christmas Brunch for the ladies at my church has happened the first Saturday of December for many years. Today was the day. I am a co-leader of the Women's Ministry. Not sure how I got the task of decorating but I have been doing it! I do enjoy thinking up themes and puling things together to make a beautiful tablescape. I can't say I know what I'm doing, but I get it done! Enjoy some photos I snapped from the brunch -
What a mess!
This is how I work. There is even more that you don't see!
I had it all cleaned up before anyone arrived.

Three tables to decorate.
It was a candy theme this year.



Ladies arriving!
My Sister-in-law Nancy is on the left.
We invited her to be our speaker.
What a challenging message she gave...
"I just said No and don't feel guilty"
I realized too late that I didn't take a pic while she was speaking.

More ladies doing what we do best....chatting!

Isn't it wonderful to just sit and visit?

Now this was the cutest young lady there!
My little Zoe, of course!

My sister Jean was in Lancaster County for the week-end.
I asked her to come and lead us in a sing-a-long.
Wonderful songs, beautiful worship!

Heather and her girls participate in singing.


Singing... worshiping.

The brunch may be over but we just can't seem to get finished chatting!
That's what friendship is all about!

It was a wonderful morning. But now I'm kicking back and taking a much needed rest. My house needs cleaned. Oh my, does it ever! The fall decorations need to be taken down and put away. Now that I have bags and bags of Christmas decorations sitting around me (stuff I used at the brunch), I should do some decorating here. But, right now I am going to get some shut eye! All the work will surely still be here when I am rested and able to tackle it.

Have a great day!