THE DAMNED WARM CIDER

So I searched and I can’t find it but I could have sworn that I told you about the Damned Warm Cider last year.

Have you ever had one of those moments when something catches you completely by surprise and suddenly you’re laughing hysterically and no one else has a clue what is going on?

Last year on our return home from our annual trip to the Mouse House for the Very Merry Christmas Party my dear friend, Miss Lolly, was entertaining me with a story about going for a urine test for a new job. You’d really have to know Miss Lolly to appreciate the story and that will have to wait for another day. Miss Lolly’s story reminded me of the first time that the Pediatrician wanted a urine sample from Daugher #1 many years ago. I began to tell Miss Lolly, Daughter #2 and CinDEErella my tale.

Daughter #1 was two years old and at the doctor for her checkup. The nurse came in to take her temperature and then proceeded to explain to D1 that she needed her to go into the restroom with me and tinkle into the cup.

D1 immediately protested. “You tinkle in the potty. You drink from a cup.”

The nurse patiently explained to D1 that she needed her to tinkle in the cup so it could be tested to make sure that she was healthy. Again, D1 insisted, You tinkle in the potty. You drink from a cup.”

The nurse tried again saying, “I need you to tinkle into the cup. I will take the tinkle and test it to make sure that you are healthy.”

D1 looked at the nurse very sternly and said in her best grown-up voice, “Trust me, I’m healthy.” Let us not forget that she is the daughter of a smart mouthed broad.

The nurse eventually caved and handed the cup to me. "Try to get her to do it at home."

I was never one of those mothers that let their kids do whatever they wanted. I forced them to take icky medicine when necessary, pick up their toys, use their manners, etc. But you can't make a kid pee in a cup if they don't want to. It's just not going to happen and I said as much to the nurse.

After listening to my story Miss Lolly laughed and said, “Did they at least give her a cup that looked clinical?”

“Oh no!”, I said, “They gave her a cup that looked like what they give you at Williams and Sonoma to sample the warm cider.”

“Ewwwww! I hate that damned warm cider!”, Miss Lolly cried.

I began to laugh. We were all laughing but after everyone else got out their giggles, I was still rolling. I couldn’t breath. Tears were streaming down my face. It went on and on. They were all looking at me like I was nuts. It was embarrassing but I was still laughing so hard that I couldn’t explain. By the time we reached home, I was just beginning to recover.

You see, just that week I had been in Williams and Sonoma and sampled the warm cider. I thought it was very good. Being Williams and Sonoma, they had a lovely gift presentation. They had mugs, cinnamon sticks, mulling spices, and the cider. I bought the whole kit and kaboodle. In fact, I thought it was perfect gift for a few of our friends, Miss Lolly and her family being one of them. How the heck was I to know? Isn’t it unAmerican to hate warm cider. I was so proud of myself. I thought I had the perfect gift. I confessed my sins to Miss Lolly and then she laughed so hard that she cried too.

Of course I found something else to give Miss Lolly & Co. And we had a very special beverage with all the fixins at our Christmas Eve Open House. And it was known from that time on as “The Damned Warm Cider.” Everyone loved it. (with a little spiced rum)

And now for a little Christmas Cheer: My favorite Christmas decorations

“I may be rushing things but deck the halls again now!”

How I start my letter to Santa every year

Hugs,

Smart Mouth Broad

THE HOLIDAYS IN A NUTSHELL (or is that a nut house?)

This is just one of my favorite Christmas decorations. It's how I would have to start any letter to Santa.

I've been a bad, bad blogger. I have taken a very long break and now that I've mustered the energy and found the will and the time to put my fingers back on the keyboard and return to bloggyville, I've got nothing. I read somewhere (and I apologize that I've forgotten who said it) in one of the many blogs I've read trying to catch up, that the first post of the year should be something clever, interesting and worthy of the first post of the year. Geesh! Talk about pressure. After giving the matter a great deal of consideration and still coming up with zip, zero, nada: I decided to let my camera do the talking. The following is a photographic diary of my holiday season. While you're looking at my holiday pictures, I'll be trying to think of something clever, witty and interesting for my next post. Wish me luck!

Making these n0-sew blankets for D1, D2, Nole Boy and the Officer and a Gentleman was the cause of my severe lack of sleep and very large bags under my eyes during the pre-holiday season. It was during this time that a neighbor kid who works in produce at the grocery said to me, "Hey, Ms. Smart Mouth, you look really tired." I punched him right in the face.
OK, I didn't but I really wanted to. I'm gonna have a talk with his mother about the things a man should never say to a woman.

Pixie shows her appreciation of D2's arrival home for the holidays.

We did make it to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party and D2 and CinDEEerella wasted no time making a beeline for the candy store to get their all-day suckers. I may post more about this later.....if I remember.

The annual Christmas Eve open house went off without a hitch. The meatballs were a success again. That is my niece, SMB in Training in the striped top.
(Yes, that is MHS in a Santa tie)

We did finally get the tree decorated. Those two big ornaments in front are my favorites. *wink*

Daddy and Daisy were with us for Christmas.

Santa brought Daddy a new Seminole shirt.

An Officer and a Gentleman was home on leave. He had to leave to return to San Diego on the 26th but we were so glad to have him with us for Christmas.

Nole Boy and D2 were happy to celebrate the season together.

The Biker Nazi and The Saint arrived the day after Christmas with their two boys and a girlfriend. We took a little day trip on the bikes and explored this historic lighthouse in Jupiter.

The view from the lighthouse is beautiful. This inlet is one of my favorite places in the world. The lighthouse is actually on a military base. The white houses below are Coast Guard housing.

The gang is all ready for their night out on New Years Eve. The boys belong to the Biker Nazi and The Saint. D2 left earlier for a party with Nole Boy. They all met up later and rang in the New Year together.


D1 is all decked out in her Fancy Nancy attire for her birthday on New Years Day. Twenty-four or four? I'm not sure. *wink*

We were truly blessed with a very happy holiday season. Now everyone has left and it's just MHS and I again. .......oh.... and the Biker Nazi who decided to stay on for awhile. Stay tuned as I'm sure there will be some real blog material in the days ahead.

GOING TO THE MOUSE HOUSE

It's that time of year again. Last week I started sending text messages to D2 and our friends, Miss Lolly and CinDEErella.

"The mouse is in the house."

Miss Lolly replied:

"At first I thought you had a rodent problem at your house. I get it now. I'm so excited!"

My next message read:

"There's pixie dust in the air."

D2 said:

"What?"

Later I sent:

"…with visions of all day suckers dancing in our wee little heads."

CinDEErella said:

"Your messages are making me very excited! I can't wait!

D2 said:

"What's with the weird messages?"

Please understand the poor dear was right in the middle of exams as I'm sending these messages. Her mind was elsewhere. Rightfully so.

This will be our third annual trip to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at Walt Disney World with our friends, Miss Lolly and CinDEErella. Miss Lolly and CinDEErella LOVE CHRISTMAS just as much as we do. The thing I love most about Miss Lolly is how she can work the words of a Christmas carol into a conversation without even trying. She says things like, "I think we need a little Christmas, right this very minute!" I think it has something to do with the fact that she was born on Christmas Eve. I just love her!

We were hoping that D1 would be able to join us this year but she will still be in NC on the last day of the Party. She'll be driving home the next day with The Officer and a Gentleman.

Last year, we were there for the taping of the 2007 Disney Christmas Day Parade. We were heart-broken to find out that the parade is actually taped in advance and not on Christmas day but we perked right up when we were invited to attend. We donned matching Christmas outfits so that we would be able to spot ourselves on TV Christmas morning. The cameras were right there on us several times. Mr. DeMille, we are ready for our close-ups! Alas, we ended up in a tangled mess on the cutting room floor. But we still believe in the magic of Disney, pixie-dust and all! And found that if you dress alike, people will think you are celebrities, Disney entertainers or just very big dorks. Ding, Ding, Ding! And the prize goes to …….VERY BIG DORKS! Guess what? We're doing it again this year and we aren't even going for the parade taping.

Here's a few of the pictures from last year's adventure to the Mouse House. Did I mention it snows on Main Street at Christmas time in Disney World. Yessirree, it DO!

This is what we found on our bed when we arrived. If you look closely, you can see the characters from The Little Mermaid on the bedspread.

OH.YES.WE.DID!
This was in the hallway of our hotel.

This carousel was in the lobby of our hotel. It is made almost completely from gingerbread. The smell when you walked in was unbelievable and so inviting.

Even this plaque with the ingredients listed was made from chocolate and icing.


D2 and I are big Dancing with the Stars fans. We were thrilled to find that the part of the parade we were scheduled to tape was the DWTS performance. If you look closely, you will see Julieanne and Derek Hough, Kim and that is Joey Fatone's back beside Kim. Tony is up there in charge of the choreography and that is Helio Castroneves in the gold pants. Mark and Sabrina were there too.

These ALL DAY suckers were no match for D2 and DEErella.

Santa, we've been verrrrrrry good this year!

The castle was covered in icicle lights that change colors to the music. The fireworks display is the best I've ever seen and synchronized to Christmas carols.

***Note***
As I've been writing this, I've been up and down getting batches of cinnamon pecans out of the oven. I'm done. Finally! I think. *sigh*