Gift of center piece

I was gifted this lovely center that was used at our annual
Docent Winter Coffee.
Being involved with the Milwaukee Art Museum is so very rewarding!

winter - bloom

It is wonderful to sit at the kitchen table and each morning
observe this bloom from a bulb, and look out as winter snows beautifies my yard.
It feels "normal" to finally have snow falls, though first was just a day ago.
And wonderful to have friends that gift me with such wonders of nature.
I shall nurture this just as they, as friends, nurture me.

My holiday gift has grown and now a bloom of major proportion!
It is wond

Lake walk

The weather g-ds finally dumped some snow on us this winter and, though I dislike the cold, the scenery is lovely. Everything looks fresh and white, like a big piece of paper or a prepared canvas. There aren't art supplies big enough,
but wouldn't it be fun to color an actual field?

Here's hoping your week is filled with exciting possibilities.
Be well!

Gang gathering!

Love the "gang" gatherings!
Great conversation, and great food.
The photo's tell it all!
D's cake was irresistible...
J's appetizer of cheese, corned beef and sauerkraut beyond yummy.
"J" is a great host!

Thanks "L" for always journaling our fun!

Bowling with the "gang"

The bowling alley is newly remodeled and is a great place for our large group to gather.
We all bring something to share, this month it was SALAD BAR...

HA HA...
of course salad, but we also had two home made soups, and also desserts that went along with the humongous amount of add-in's one can put in/on a salad.

Note...the photo's I only blogged the socializing and eating !
That is the best part of a
Monthly BOWLING PARTY!

a new beginning...off to a great start

All my friends, THANK YOU SO MUCH for your friendship and being an integral part of my life!

IF IT'S NOT FUN, I'M NOT DOING IT!

2011 was a GREAT ride and I'm closing it out with fun and friends.

LOOK OUT 2012 - I'm runnin' towards you at full speed and divin' right in.......ROCK ON!

I wish you all the best of all in this New Year.
I am blessed to have friends to celebrate the coming of this new year.
I am looking forward to what life has in store for me.
I have had more fun and learned more than I had ever imagined.
May we continue being so blessed and grateful for present and future
health, happiness, good fortune!
Remember...
“Birth is a beginning, death a destination;
& life is a journey.
Do not rush to make it to our final destination.
Enjoy the detours of life and learn from them."

Christmas vs. Chanukah

Christmas vs. Chanukah

· Jews love Dec. 25th. It's another paid day off work.

· We go to movies and out for Chinese food.
Chanukah is eight days.

· It starts the evening of the 24th
of Kislev, whenever that falls.

· No one is ever sure.

· Jews never know until a non Jewish friend asks when Chanukah
starts, forcing us to consult a calendar

· so we don't look like idiots.

* Christmas is a major holiday.
* Chanukah is a minor holiday with the same theme as most
Jewish holidays:

They tried to kill us, we survived, let's eat!!!
* Christians get wonderful presents such as jewelry,
perfume, stereos...
* Jews get practical presents such as underwear, socks, or
a the collected works which looks impressive on the bookshelf.
* There is only one way to spell Christmas.
* No one can decide how to spell Chanuka, Chanukah, Chanukka,
Channukah, Hanukah, Hannuka.
* Christmas is a time to expect special gifts.
* Jewish men are relieved of that burden.

No one expects a diamond ring on Chanukah.
* Christmas brings enormous electric bills.
* Candles are used for Chanukah.

Not only are we spared enormous electric bills, but we get to feel good about
not contributing to the energy crisis.
* Christmas carols are beautiful.

Silent Night, Come o Ye Faithful.....
* Chanukah songs are about dreidels made from clay or about
having a party and dancing the Hora.

Of course, we secretly pleased that many of the beautiful carols were
composed and written by our tribal brethren.

And don't Barbara Streisand and Neil Diamond sing them beautifully?
* A home preparing for Christmas smells wonderful. The
sweet smell of cookies and cakes baking. Happy people
are gathered around in festive moods.

* A home preparing for Chanukah smells of oil, potatoes and onions.

The home, as always, is full of loud people all talking at once.
* Christian women have fun baking Christmas cookies.
* Jewish women burn their eyes and cut their hands grating
potatoes and onions for latkes on Chanukah.

Another reminder of our suffering through the ages. .
* The players in the Christmas story have easy to pronounce
names such as Mary, Joseph and Jesus.
* The players in the Chanukah story are Antiochus, Judah,
Maccabee, and Matta-whatever. No one can spell it or
pronounce it. On the plus side, we can tell our friends
anything and they believe we are wonderfully

versed in our history.
* Many Christians believe in the virgin birth.
* Jews think, "Joseph, bubela. Snap out of it. Your woman
is pregnant, you didn't sleep with her, and now you want
to blame God. Here's the number of my shrink."
* In recent years, Christmas has become more and more commercialized.
* The same holds true for Chanukah, even though it is a
minor holiday. It makes sense. How could we market a
major holiday such as Yom Kippur? Forget about
celebrating. Think observing. Come to synagogue, starve
yourself for 27 hours, become one with your dehydrated
soul, beat your chest, confess your sins, a guaranteed
good time for you and your family.

Tickets a mere $200 per person.