Poo Poo Paper?! For Reals?

A Look Back to Something I Can Still Remember

One month ago was Christmas and I wanted to record the presents I received and some of those I gave. I have two reasons for doing this: First, it will remind me next year who of my siblings and Candleman's siblings we gave to last year. Hopefully, that will make it easier to figure out who we give to in 2009. In both families we give to the person just younger than us, the next year two younger, and so on. For the life of me, I can't remember from year to year who gave to us or who we gave to. Maybe this will help. The second reason is to share with you the fun things we received.

Let's start with the MOST interesting present. Actually, I thing it's a safe bet to say that this is the MOST interesting present either of us have ever received. My brother and his wife, who live near DC, sent us each a journal made out of elephant poo poo paper! Here's the excerpt that helps sell the journals at their online bookstore: Be number one at doing number two with this ecologically responsible product. Help save Asian elephants and their habitat in Thailand by using 100% handmade, recycled “poo poo” paper made from eco-friendly elephant dung. The label says they are made from 100% Recycled and Odorless Paper Products Made from Elephat Poo! (The exclamation point is theirs.) Isn't that a hoot? Everyone at our Christmas Eve gathering at Mom's house got a big kick out of it. The paper is really pretty with a nice texture and absolutely no smell. I think it's a marvelous 'green' idea. They also gave us cute pens and an eco quiz game. Thanks, Wayne & Susan. We love it!

My Mom gave us some baggies filled with yummy mixes, along with recipes, for our food storage. There's a Cheesy Potato Soup, Raspberry Muffin Mix, Honey Wheat Pancakes and Tomato Powder, which you can add water to and make tomato paste or sauce. In fact, all you need to add to any of the mixes is water. As if that was not enough there was also a crisp bill so we could buy more food storage. She also included a 52-week buying plan for 2 people for a one-year supply of food. This is a most welcome present with the economy looking so sad. Thanks, Mom.

Candleman's brother and his wife gave us a set of Bocce boules (Italian for balls). We lent them a set that got chipped. Seems the grandkids had fun throwing them at the rock wall. I'll bet that was fun! Anyway we got a nice new set. YAY! Thanks Brad and Wendy. (Note to reader: if you haven't ever played Bocce you may want to check out the rules HERE. It's a fun outdoor game for 2 or more players. Two, four or eight people (or teams) can play with 8 balls. Borrow another set from a brother or nephew if there are more players.

Okay, I need to write shorter descriptions, or better still, write a list.

Presents to me
*from Jenny & John - a nice Nativity - carved from wood & similar to Willow Tree but even cuter.
*from Kristi & Ron - an Amazon.com gift certificate so I can buy music for my iPod and 1/2 box Frango mints Mmmm-Mmmm.
*from Alyson - an electronic picture frame filled with pictures of family.
*from Katie - an Amazon gift certificate (Yay, more songs), a long magnetic notepad and 1/2 box Frango mints.
*from Candleman - okay, I am totally embarrassed at how spoiled I am. All I asked for was a new window in my future library. Instead I got a completely finished library - new paint, carpet AND window with new bookshelves, a new desk and flat screen tv. And since my birthday is 5 days after Christmas all this counted as presents for that, too. Candleman did a fantastic job of building and finishing up this cozy little room for me.
*from my visiting teachers - a bottle of blackberry syrup.

Gifts given:
I've already forgotten. Which is a good thing because it is time to end this post!

Remembering Summer

Today I became a thief. First, I stole the idea for this post from Alison over at We're All Mad Here. I thought it was such a great idea for this dreary January day. Secondly, I stole this picture of a scrapbook page made and posted on Alyson's Scrpabook blog. I hope I'll be forgiven because of the coincidence that both wronged people have the same name. Makes sense to me.

The second Alyson is my daughter and this page features pictures of my granddaughter on the hammock in our backyard. I love laying on that hammock, looking at the sky and meditating on the meaning of all things.

Oh, Happy Day!

My library is ready (just about) to receive my books. I'm very excited and so, of course, I wanted to share it with the whole wide world. That means the 3 or 4 of you who read my blog. Love ya!

Last night Candleman and I stayed up until 11:00 finishing up painting the last coat on trim and doors. This morning at 9:00 the carpet layers came and banged around for 30 minutes. I slept right through it. Oh, I was aware of the noise but I couldn't roust myself from my coma-like sleep.

After lunch John and Candleman moved the furniture from where it had been stored for the last week in the living room. The 'little' desk I bought for me was a bit bigger than expected (and yes, I measured at the furniture store and had a blueprint of the room, too - what can I say - slight mistakes happen when I use a measuring tape! ) So they had to rearrange and rearrange, but eventually we settled on a plan that looks great and is very functional.

Then they hung up my flat-screen tv. It looks good. Candleman had to run to the store to get some cable stuff and then pick Katie up from work, so we haven't been able to test the picture yet or the possible glare from the window.

While he was gone RC Wiley's delivered the desk hutch and little drawer unit for the VCR, DVD, DVR, etc to sit on. When Candleman gets home we can hook up all the electronic stuff for the tv and computer. Both the cats have investigated the room thoroughly. Nally came in and rolled around on the carpet, luxuratingly. Itty Bitty has climbed on every shelf and tops of the bookshelves. He was quite impressed that he could look out side from his high perch.

There are 3 bookshelves, so I'm hoping to have room for all my books (Candleman has way too many so his are going to have to wait til his room gets finished in the basement.) The carpet is a deep maroon and the walls are 'linen' with white trim. It's a small little room - not quite 9' x 10' but it's going to be pleasant enough for a library/study for me.

Tomorrow we'll work on hooking up the printer, external hard drive and a few other electronic devices connected to the desk and computer. And, of course, putting books and a few momentoes on the shelves. We finally get our dining room table back.

Thank heaven for our good backyard neighbor (also, our son-in-law) for all his help. We would never have got the furniture arranged or the tv installed without him. It's nice to have the second room of our multi-room fix-up done.