I Met the REAL Santa

     It was at an after Christmas sale in an upscale decorating store a few years back.  I was looking down, and as I looked up so as not to run into the person in front of me -- there he was.  (Yes, he was after-Christmas shopping.)  He was dressed in nice neat jeans, handsome looking suspenders, and a red plaid flannel shirt.  Perfectly silver grey hair, flowed into perfectly silver grey sideburns, that flowed into a perfect silver grey beard.

     I blurted out, "Do you know that you could be Santa Claus?"....."I am Santa Claus", was his reply.  The way he said it made me believe!  Then  he reached into his wallet and gave me this picture.




Yes.....it said Believe on it LOL!


     That summer I was shopping for a Mother of the Bride dress in a store that also sold furs.  As I checked out, there was an 8 x 10 of the very same picture I had in my wallet!  "What??  You guys know the real Santa Claus too?"  Turns out they made Santa's suit!!  That's real fur!  They informed me that this Santa travels to Harrod's in London to work there for the Christmas season.  He is suppose to live in a close town to me, but I have never met him.  (as a real person :-)  I would like to thank him for a great story that I tell almost every year....the year Santa gave me his picture.  He is a great (I mean the REAL) Santa!





Linked to" The Great Holiday Barn Hop




.....jean

100.....er...101 Followers

    
     Who'd-a thunk!  I'm beyond blown away.  When I started blogging last New Years Eve, I barely even knew what a follower was LOL!  I promised a face to go with my blog to Mama Pea over at A Home Grown Journal when I got to 100 followers.  Thank-You Anita Husevag for being #100!  ....and fullfreezer for being # 101.  Here you go everyone.






Yup....taken in the bathroom mirror.
You have no idea how much I wanted to airbrush everything smooth and 20 year old like!


I think it is totally appropriate that Mama Pea ask for a picture.
Her blog was the first that I actually got up the nerve to make a comment!


I have been totally enjoying getting to know you all (...and still getting to know you).
If you've ever wondered how I got my blog's name here is the story.


(dr momi.....who really does have a name) .....jean

      

Need a Funny Caption

What's your caption for this week?

Last week:

"What?!  Do I look like I have egg on my face?"

Last week's caption coined by Ronda over at:
The Pauley Principle
(Hop on over there to check out her easy cinnamon buns...yum!)




Sooooo many good ones this week!

"Oh shucks!  She caught me before I could lay down and play possum."
Coined by Marissa over at:
Life On Our Side Of The Mountain
(I laughed out loud Marissa!)


"I'll have to see your invitation before I can let you in."
Coined by Mama Pea over at:
A Home Grown Journal


You didn't see anything.
Coined by Simply Scaife Family over at:
Simply Scaife Family Farm


"Ya'll don't really eat possum for Christmas do you?!?"
Coined by Candy C. over at:
Lazy J Bar C Farm


I'm not going out there - are you kidding!?
Coined by Sandi over at:
Chatty Crone


(think New York accent....)  "Whada you lookin' at?"
Coined by Dicky Bird over at:
Dicky's Bird Nest


I think I should have taken that left at Albuquerque......
Coined by Melodie over at:
Laughing Duck Farm

  This possum surprised me in the barn one night when doing chores. (*scream*)

He's holed up in the old chicken nest which wasn't being used.

He was eating cat food.....and he looks way guilty to me!

.....jean

A New Barn Quilt




A new barn quilt in our "neighborhood".
If you're interested in barn quilts, here are some
in  Shawano County, Wisconsin.

 

Linked To: Barn Charm

.....jean



Making Gingerbread Houses



We made gingerbread (graham cracker) houses Sunday night with the grandkids.
 Frosting : 6 egg whites, 1/2 tsp. cream of tarter, and 2 lbs. of powdered sugar.
Mix it all until smooth. (I used the mixer but don't "whip" it.)
 The frosting went into a freezer qt. size bag, and the corner was snipped off.





Every seam gets frosting inside and out.
The more it "drips" the better...it looks like snow.





Gracie insisted her house be a triangle.





We thought it came out rather Frank Lloyd Wright-ish. :-)
There is a lot of helping the kids yet with the placing of the crackers......









....but they love placing the candy.



We only had one cave in.....

......but it all came out all right.
We buy all the candy at the dollar store...and save left overs from year to year.



They had a great time. 
This was our 2nd Annual Making of the Gingerbread Houses,
we expect the houses to get better every year. :-)



.....jean

Linked To: Homestead Barn Hop

Be A Good Boy Butsch

     Tomorrow Butsch and I take off for Leader Dogs For The Blind in Rochester Michigan (near Detroit).  If he checks out physically, he will begin his formal training in harness.  There is also a chance that he could be pulled for breeding.  None of the dogs are neutered or spayed until they return to the school for just that reason.  Leader Dog has their own breeding program, breeding dogs for many generations, with just the right qualities to be a dog guide.  If he did get pulled for breeding, he would be placed with a family near the school.  He would have a "family pet" job most of the time, and brought to the school only when needed.

     We've been making the rounds to the different stores and restaurants he's been a regular at saying good-bye, and I've been preparing myself for letting him go.  He's a super smart dog that thrives on learning new stuff.  The formal training should be right up his alley.  Do your mama proud Butsch!

Butsch 4 months old.








.....and at 8 months old.
He looks pretty much the same now, maybe a little wider in the chest.
I tried to get a new picture....it's like trying to photograph a 3 year old :-)


.....jean

Need a Funny Caption

What's your caption for this week?

Last week:




"I thought I was riding in the sleigh..."

Last week's caption by Dicky Bird over at:
Dicky's Bird Nest

:-).....reminded me of  the

grinch's "dog-reindeer".

You must go over and check out the post over at
Dicky's Bird Nest.  Deer hunting at it's best :-)

I also liked (and appreciated)

"I do believe, I do believe!"

given by Candy C over at
Lazy J Bar C Farm




This was a picture of Bailey, a stray that we adopted.
She was a great family dog. 
She just "put up with me" with that pitiful look while I took her pic.



.....jean

Old Barns



My old barn from the inside.
Obviously not used for hay anymore.















....and from the outside.

 
.....jean

Linked To: Barn Charm

Sunday in Pictures

........on Monday.  I had major problems with the internet on Sunday, I could not get on blogger.  Seems the powers that be have it fixed this morning.




Had a little chaos Sunday night.
Tried to take a Christmas Card picture of all the grandkids.
Check out Zoe ripping that santa hat off her head.



They all had bells to ring.
I think Gracie is not happy with her bell.
Silly adults......what makes you think they are all going to look at the camera???



Before the "picture",  they all got
to put the ornaments on the
"kids" tree up in the loft.



....and place the kids manger scene out.
Gracie places the angel.

 






So....Mary and Joseph and Jesus,
and 100 animals worshipping with the kings and shepherds.
I just said to Rick....I think we need a stable to "lift"
the Holy Family above the worshippers :-)
The kids had a blast putting it out.
What.....you didn't know there was an anteater at the stable?





































Knowing we would never get a picture with them all looking at the camera, I learned
how to do my first collage on Picasa 3.
Left to right on the top:  Zoe, Ryan, Brady, Remington
Logan, Grace, Brayden, and Riley.

I've told you all I have 10 grandchildren.......
8 on the ground, 2 cooking.



Decking the Halls

     Everyone (I'm pretty sure it's everyone :-) in Northeast Wisconsin is putting up their outdoor Christmas lights today.  It's 53 degrees outside!!!  Probably the last 50's we'll see.  Tomorrow it is suppose to be 45 degrees, and raining all day.  After that -- in the 30's.  Nothing is worse (ok I'm exaggerating) than trying to put up lights when it gets that cold.



A direct quote...."It's like putting lights on a
cactus it's SO picky!"   ....Rick (my husband)
I do believe that bush
is getting moved in the spring!





Now all we need is a new cover of snow!

    .....jean