Here are a some of the latest face pix I have taken

My Husband sent me this one

A number of high profile websites are going dark today
to protest the proposed Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA)
and PROTECT IP Act (PIPA).
The bills are designed to protect intellectual property holders
by toughening measures against copyright infringers.
Opponents say that aspects of the bill pose grave threats to free speech
and internet entrepreneurship,
with some high profile webmasters claiming that the bill,
if passed, would threaten the very existence of their sites
despite not hosting copyright-infringing material directly. Wikipedia,

Reddit and Boing Boing are among the sites effectively shutting down today.
News source

When I uploaded to Flickr today I saw this message

For more information see http://blog.flickr.net/.

Who's Going Dark to Protest SOPA, PIPA?

How to Access Wikipedia on SOPA Protest Day 

 
I put it where I can see it when I work with colors.

My Xanga family is one of the greatest gifts I found on Xanga.
When I was visiting them in Rochester
Thankee accidentally used wart stick instead of Chap stick
see the story  HERE


I recently posted on Facebook that I love LypSyl Lip Balm

A few weeks after posting that, I received this in the mail
from Donkey_Guy_10 .
 

That was funny and sweet,
Thank you Donk!

Anyone can join in telling a story ,
draw it, take photos or google some images.
Let's post them next Saturday Jan 14

  We have one in the greenhouse , they wanted to replace it but I said "No way!"
HERE is the story posted with this photo

We have one in the old kitchen downstairs

Now I will have one in my kitchen upstairs, which has this sink,

That old sink will look great!
Isn't that a HUGE fern? It will take over the kitchen.

I will update with a finished pic....
there she is!

You would never know the joy of how refreshing a cold drink of water was
if you were never truly thirsty.

The LORD will guide you continually,
giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength.
You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring.
Isaiah 58:11

This post is dedicated to @Jsolberg for being such a friend.

There is an old hymn that I love called
Little is Much

In the harvest field now ripened
There’s a work for all to do;
Hark! the voice of God is calling
To the harvest calling you.

Refrain

Little is much when God is in it!
Labor not for wealth or fame.
There’s a crown—and you can win it,
If you go in Jesus’ Name.

In the mad rush of the broad way,
In the hurry and the strife,
Tell of Jesus’ love and mercy,
Give to them the Word of Life.

Refrain

Does the place you’re called to labor
Seem too small and little known?
It is great if God is in it,
And He’ll not forget His own.

Refrain

Are you laid aside from service,
Body worn from toil and care?
You can still be in the battle,
In the sacred place of prayer.

Refrain

When the conflict here is ended
And our race on earth is run,
He will say, if we are faithful,
“Welcome home, My child—well done!”

I spent all day with family, I played lots of games
and read books to the kids.
I loved Scrabble Flash!
It was a good day all in all.
I AM BLESSED.

Christmas is not just about gifts, I know that.
What is the most important thing about Christmas?

A child of HOPE is born.

May this great hope for mankind light your way
through any sorrows and worries you have
and bring you blessed peace today.

Hope is the word which God has written on the brow of every man.
~Victor Hugo

Favorite Movie

I love "The Lemon Drop Kid"
  

Favorite Photo

Favorite memory
When I was 7 I was standing on the corner of  '6th and Penn' in downtown Reading PA
(pronounced Red-ding, it is the same Reading as the Reading Railroad in Monopoly)
I was waiting to cross the street. Silver bells was playing over a PA System somewhere.
It was beginning to snow and I remember looking at the stop light and listening to the song,

Strings of street lights
Even stop lights
Blink a bright red and green
As the shoppers rush
home with their treasures.

I could see the whole song all around me,people all bundled up, packages,
kids hanging on to their Mom's coats and lights, all kinds of lights....
" in the air there's a feeling of Christmas".
I remember looking and looking and then nearly getting trampled to death
when the light changed because I was so lost in the wonder of it all.

Favorite cookie

Raspberry Schnitten
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/3 cup sugar
1 lg. egg
2 cups flour
1/3 cup seedless raspberry jam
(I use strawberry or black raspberry)
1/3 cup chopped walnuts(sometimes I forget to use these )
1 cup chocolate chips(I use white chocolate instead of dark)
Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg.
Gradually stir in flour until blended. Divide dough in half.
Wrap each half in plastic wrap and chill 1 hour, or until firm enough to roll.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Put each piece of dough between 2 sheets of waxed paper
and roll to a 12-inch by 5-inch rectangle.
Peel off top paper sheets, invert onto cookie sheet 2 inches apart.
Peel off bottom paper. Fold long edges inward (1/2-inch), keeping borders even.
Pat any cracks to seal.
Spread jam to the folded edge (do not put jam on the folded edges).
Sprinkle nuts over jam. Bake 20 to 25 minutes, until edges are golden brown.
Cool slightly, then cut each rectangle into 16 slices (I use a pizza cutter).
Remove to rack to finish cooling.
Once cooled completely, melt the chocolate chips in a small saucepan on low heat,
stirring to prevent burning. Dip plain edges of cookies into chocolate
and set on waxed paper to cool.
Makes 32 cookies.

Favorite ornament
I collect Nativities and ugly old plastic "Jewel Brite" Ornaments.
This set combined both of my loves.I just love tacky vintage ornaments.
  

Favorite carol
'O Holy Night'

Favorite Christmas Recordings

'Messiah'
The Philadelphia Orchestra directed by Eugene Ormandy and
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir
it is the first record that I ever remember being played .

Time-Life Music:Treasury of Christmas - 'Holiday Memories'
Great variety of classics

'Christmas Star'
The Cambridge Singers and Orchestra
directed by John Rutter
This has the most beautiful classical carols.

'3 Ships'
Jon Anderson (from 'Yes')
I love this CD.

Favorite present I gave
It has been the things I have done that seem to mean the most.
Like putting up someone's tree the year they are to sick to do it...
and remembering to go take it down too.


Favorite present I received
An old Victorian Scrapbook...
I went to an auction soon after I got married.
It was late in the fall and we were freezing standing outside  bidding on things.
There was an old scrapbook that some young Victorian girl had made that I wanted.
I stood in the cold,waiting to bid on it.
The bidding for the Scrapbook started. I took it up to $100 but I couldn't go higher,
it sold for $110 to an antique dealer.
When I got home I told my husband (Dave) all about my bidding war,
he kindly listened and did not say
"WHaaaa? You bid One hundred dollars for more junk?"
Unbeknownst to me....he called the auctioneer and had the scrapbook tracked down,
which took a few days,they had to go through all their sales tickets.
Dave found out where it was and he went and bought the Victorian Scrapbook for me.
It was the first Christmas present he gave me as my husband.           

   

I hope you will do the tag and
post some of your Christmas favorites?
Movie
Cookie
Carol
Recording or CD
Gifts given and received
Book/story
Ornament
Memory

People who did the tag
twiztidsilverskull
threesilkstockings
affinityinunderstanding
Saintvi
Comet555

and put all five bags under the tree.

  

Now she just tapes shut the store bag and adds a bow.

Did you ever Peek at your Christmas presents before Christmas?

I will message you a link to the hatted pic.
Here is how to add it as a profile pic
1. Copy the code
2.Paste the copied code into the browser
3. The photo will open up in a window
4. Right click on the pic and click "save image as", saving it to your computer,
it helps to remember where you save it
5.Click on the "Edit Profile Picture" Under your profile pic on your site.
6. Click the "Add a Profile Picture"  and chose the photo you just saved.
That should do it!

If you already sent a message I am working on it and will have i to you ASAP.

1. Can you give a brief outline of your life, family?

I’m 26, but I’m an old soul.  I grew up in rural Northern NJ (yes, it exists),
  and I’m back home after graduating from law school.
  I’m one of three sisters,

and even though we fight too much, I love them.  Lauren is 23, and is teaching 1st grade in Munich.  I miss her horribly.  Michelle is 19, and goes to college in Massachusetts.
My parents, while extremely Type A, are very supportive and funny.
I love spending time with them.  I’ve had the same friends since I was in middle school
and we’re still very close.

I’ve always been a serious nerd.  I love watching the news, reading Victorian lit, and playing word games.  One of my dreams, among many, is to travel to England, Ireland, and Scotland.  Seeing castles in person takes my breath away.

I find humor in almost anything, but I can also be a grim realist.  I look at people who always see the glass half full and wonder how they do it.  I always wish I wasn’t such a perfectionist. 

My boyfriend, Ryan, is the opposite of me:  laid back, able to live in the moment, and constantly idealistic.  I’ve never been the type to say corny things, but he’s the love of my life.

2. What are your main interests, hobbies or collections?

I wish I had something captivating to type here, but I’m kind of in the process of searching for hobbies and discovering what I’m interested in.  I like reading, playing tennis, taking walks in the fall, and watching anything funny. 

One weird interest I have is linguistics.
I love hearing different accents and dialects, especially those within the U.S. 
I wish I had a cooler answer.
( I love linguistics too and think that is a cool answer!!)

3. What is one of the craziest things you have ever done?

Going skinny-dipping with my boyfriend (he jumped out immediately because he was cold…lame).   Honestly, besides speeding on NJ highways (which is stupid, but the norm), I’m not much of a risk taker.

4. What brought you to Xanga?

I had a serious medical problem with no diagnosis/cure, and I was struggling with getting through law school before I ultimately made a decision to take a leave of absence.  I was so scared of what the future held.   I just felt this overwhelming need to write about what I was going through.  I chose Xanga over a private journal, because I wanted camaraderie and empathy.  I found it.

5. How did you pick your Xanga name and how do you like to be addressed on here?

The first part of my name, NCT, is my initials.
I included “hope,” because it was something I was really searching for at the time I started writing on Xanga.  I like being called my first name, Nicole.
 
6. What are some of your favorites? websites,movies,music,food,books, songs?

There are so many!  I’ll do it by category:

Websites (besides Xanga): 
Facebook is the most obvious one.  I spend way too much time on it,
but I love seeing pictures and statuses of friends and family who are far away.
  I also love theoatmeal.com (a hilarious comic site),
jezebel.com (news with a very snarky twist),  postsecret.com,
and glamour.com for mindless, shallow fun.

Movies: 
There are few movies I can watch again because I get bored so easily.  Still, I make an exception for Schindler’s List, Gran Torino, The King’s Speech, Philadelphia, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, and Up.  I’m looking forward to seeing Hugo this week.

TV Shows:
  Parenthood is my current obsession.  It’s one of the only shows I’ve watched where the families aren’t unrealisticly perfect.  The actor who plays Max, a 9 year-old with Asperger’s syndrome, is beyond talented.  I also really enjoy Parks and Recreation, The Office, New Girl, Glee, Modern Family, and QI (a British trivia show).  I wish Everwood still aired. 

Books:
  I love Jane Eyre, Pride and Prejudice, and A Tale of Two Cities, and To Kill a Mockingbird.   Anything by Mitch Albom is great too, especially Tuesdays with Morrie.

Music:
The Beatles and Simon and Garfunkel are constants for me.  Recently, I’ve really gotten into Mumford and Sons, The Black Keys, and Shiny Toy Guns.  Everyday, I wish I could play the guitar…it’s just beautiful.

Songs: 
“The Boxer,” by Simon and Garfunkel reminds me of my grandfather, who passed away when I was younger.  I also love David Grey’s “Babylon” and Beethoven’s “F¸r Elise.”

Food:
In no particular order, I love: pizza, veggie burritos, grapes, milk chocolate in any form, and a warm, NY-style bagel (with butter, never cream cheese).  

Games:
Scattergories, Scrabble, Rummikub, Hanging with Friends, and Bejeweled are all incredibly addictive.

7. What are your plans for the future?

Being a lawyer at the first place I get a job.  I’m not sure a career in law is even what I want anymore, but since I took out huge loans for school, I kind of have to be a lawyer…at least initially.  I’ve had a few interviews lately, and I have some coming up this week.  I really have no idea what my career future holds.

Eventually, I want to get married (to Ryan) and have 2 kids (hopefully in my mid-thirties…not ready yet).  I’d like to live close to family and friends so I can see them frequently.  That’s always been very important to me.

I also want to better prioritize my own health and although it sounds clichÈ,
learn to appreciate the small things.

8. What challenges have you faced recently?

After I graduated law school in December, I studied my ass off for the February bar.  In May, I found I failed and the firm I was temping at “laid me off” as a result.  I was devastated…it was the first (and most important) test I had ever failed.  Getting the motivation to study for 2 months straight again was difficult, and waiting for 4 months for the test result was torture.  I found out I passed last week, and it’s the biggest relief I’ve ever experienced.

At Thanksgiving, my aunt wrote “Esquire” on my name card for the table, and I couldn’t stop smiling.  I looked like the biggest dork.

9. What is something you have learned about yourself these last few months?

That I really need to work on my patience.  I always want everything good to happen all at once, and I need to learn to take life in stride…whatever that means.

10. What is something/someplace you have always wanted to do/see?

In general, I’m not very well traveled.  There are so many places, in addition to the U.K., that I want to visit.  Right now I don’t have the money, and I cannot wait for a time in my life that I do.  There is so much to see and I’m excited for those experiences.

My travel list includes Germany, Austria and Switzerland (I’ve been to these countries, but I was 16 and would love to go again), all of northern Europe, Prague, Turkey, Greece, Japan, and China.  That’s just a start.  J

I don’t know who has time, but taking a cross-country trip would be amazing too.  I’ve never been to California, and I’d to see all the less traveled places on the way to the West Coast.  I’ve heard Washington and Oregon are beautiful. 

Here is a post about past Poinsettia Shows

He opened up the freezer for me, I do not know what I was expecting...

cold drinks?

He also had a good use for the antlers

I love visiting Elmer.

2. What are your main interests, hobbies or collections?