Declaring It A Disaster Area...

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYll0gFJRoxfy9ev_SDgwPuyAbs5tLj5s8iSVYAeAPYGK2ZK4phNX3gP-1WKYkPpioyubN4MW2DHukBjMNexiMqAvfM2gSDAgdW4vDKGl5Bxiuq06Uemb-u0dSy88x3y8toNF8JWno-vCq/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYll0gFJRoxfy9ev_SDgwPuyAbs5tLj5s8iSVYAeAPYGK2ZK4phNX3gP-1WKYkPpioyubN4MW2DHukBjMNexiMqAvfM2gSDAgdW4vDKGl5Bxiuq06Uemb-u0dSy88x3y8toNF8JWno-vCq/s640/002.JPG" width="518" /></a></div><div align="center"><em></em><br /> </div><div align="center"><em></em> <em>DISCLAIMER: Gonna have me a little Blog Rant about the Disarray in Bohemian Valhalla since I've been down Sick these past few days... the Crew scatter & run for cover if I have a Rant for Real... so this is the next best thing & assures no Casualties... the House already looks like enough of a War Zone without tragic Casualties adding to the mix for Heaven's Sakes! *LOL*  Besides, I have to Conserve my Energies & Resources for Healing, not Warring, remember?</em><br /><em></em><br /><em></em><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpD0z5ItGOQK-Al_qWiDpvz0KO395tByszKuX90Lm8IFIY22X2bwsOxBq5GOkjSjO7kTX8s8u1u_a1P4E1Jw-1nO_7J0kCTyFkHuqDbZNU2Dq0GnvHB4bJn6e2NdknWzi5w4oJrmw-xM-M/s1600/472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpD0z5ItGOQK-Al_qWiDpvz0KO395tByszKuX90Lm8IFIY22X2bwsOxBq5GOkjSjO7kTX8s8u1u_a1P4E1Jw-1nO_7J0kCTyFkHuqDbZNU2Dq0GnvHB4bJn6e2NdknWzi5w4oJrmw-xM-M/s640/472.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /> </div><div align="center"><em>Heck No I'm not gonna Reveal pixs of it, we're not going THAT far and destroy any Fantastic Fantasy Image or Impression you have of Bohemian Valhalla and what an Awesome Keeper & Guardian of the Home I am!  It would Spoil the whole carefully orchestrated Illusion!!! *LOL*   But we are gonna Talk about it... because I NEED to! *Winks*  I'm Talking of coarse about what happens to a Home when the Caregiver gets Sick... not much gets done and it can go to Hell rather quickly when I'm not keeping on top of it daily!!!  And Sickness really drives home that unfortunate Reality! *Le Sigh*</em></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbvvFdPFx8SDnFp1oOO7S2QzJsmCevF4Hb9d240xkBsW1huLg_y7yn1XJO5pzm7_REDKy5I-2fL2CX8nsflSIi6IqVyTGL_V_aqmdozuzWwY2hU1sYILnLpc827M6AiV9eskxExvfzQWPX/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbvvFdPFx8SDnFp1oOO7S2QzJsmCevF4Hb9d240xkBsW1huLg_y7yn1XJO5pzm7_REDKy5I-2fL2CX8nsflSIi6IqVyTGL_V_aqmdozuzWwY2hU1sYILnLpc827M6AiV9eskxExvfzQWPX/s640/004.JPG" width="588" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>This is primarily one of the Laundry List of Reasons why a Caregiver can never Afford to get Sick.  Nobody runs Damage Control in lieu of the Caregiver being Off Duty for Sickness or gives Care to the Caregiver... so you're kinda screwed during your Recovery period, whatever you're battling in the way of Infirmity.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZQr2sUB2KGE45p_-oK2tUFDAMZKt8zK5ARO3v1tnHRrzNcQ4_H_k_LrjU2n_7PGYte8m154de5u_eue7N4TWrcCA3Fw__UfzBCXnpCZxw-J4U4lCvze6Rd4pcFiJUghA-pOIoMmkx3Nf5/s1600/134903545676221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZQr2sUB2KGE45p_-oK2tUFDAMZKt8zK5ARO3v1tnHRrzNcQ4_H_k_LrjU2n_7PGYte8m154de5u_eue7N4TWrcCA3Fw__UfzBCXnpCZxw-J4U4lCvze6Rd4pcFiJUghA-pOIoMmkx3Nf5/s640/134903545676221.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>At what point am I Declaring it a Disaster Area?  I'm not sure yet, we'll see how long I remain down for the count and how bad it gets?  I did manage to get the Young Prince out of the House for the entire Weekend and visiting his Paternal Side of the Family... one down for two days at least. *Whew!*  Too bad the Beast Princess's Paternal Side are in Mexico & I'm feelin' too Sick to even consider International Travel. *LOL*   And anyway, she's still down Sick too off and on with her Respiratory Conditions, so she wants Gramma... EXCLUSIVELY... you know how Sick Kids Bond to the Nurturing Estro Figure, whoever that is in their Caregiving Experience...  and I'm "It", no passing of the Baton in this relay.  She's been literally attached to me like a Conjoined Twin!</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw8K-cODbyTV7R1YEkUD4TO6PlgAGP37lExjo3fiW1ETK6DKMjRQst1l-s8hU73Ru8cxtCuMayKqA7uZhGWgtJwILnVkJWTHeAmHneLbmWyLVw_S6lM8rSd_RQWAxF_Q6J1ON7SLfptOml/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw8K-cODbyTV7R1YEkUD4TO6PlgAGP37lExjo3fiW1ETK6DKMjRQst1l-s8hU73Ru8cxtCuMayKqA7uZhGWgtJwILnVkJWTHeAmHneLbmWyLVw_S6lM8rSd_RQWAxF_Q6J1ON7SLfptOml/s640/003.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>And The Man is now getting around without the aid of his Walker... which is both a Blessing and a Curse I'm finding.  A Blessing in that he's slowly Recovering and Indepentantly Mobile again, which is HUGE since this Ole' House is not exactly Wheelchair nor Walker Accessible and we didn't want him to end up in the VA Residential Treatment Center for Rehab & Recovery. </em><em> We Believe he will do better Healing at Home and Honestly I'm not up to making daily treks into the City to the Old Soldier's Home with a G-Kid Entourage for visits anyway so it's just as well.  </em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC7VBLG01frtlm3t4fBsgqQUCFsMmJUqr0E1WlY-RVYMyq89livTLmOrKPsBQeWCU_Mbet8Yscgwukx0x7yhyNOCMUDdkoPMANiiWvOPVzL_1jSF1R56RcKEXQ_cTmmVQD6lYKubpl0yda/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC7VBLG01frtlm3t4fBsgqQUCFsMmJUqr0E1WlY-RVYMyq89livTLmOrKPsBQeWCU_Mbet8Yscgwukx0x7yhyNOCMUDdkoPMANiiWvOPVzL_1jSF1R56RcKEXQ_cTmmVQD6lYKubpl0yda/s640/005.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>It also means less Work in the way of trying to get him around a very Old Home with a Walker, which was quite a Challenge and a lot of crashing around with bulky Medical Equipment that didn't really fit & caused a lot of collateral damage in his Wake.  But then again, now more Work BECAUSE he <u>can</u> get around the Home now and into every room again!  *Le Sigh*  Because he's not well enough yet to make it seem as though he wasn't there...  you know... kinda like the G-Kid Force, incriminating Evidence is left everywhere in their Wake!!!  But of coarse when I do the Interrogations of who made what mess, everyone suddenly developes Amnesia, Selective Hearing and is loudly protesting their Innocence of the carnage or pleading the 5th!   Apparently NOBODY is making the mess, it just materializes on it's own like Scotch Mist, what a Phenomenon?!?  *Winks*</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYYqwz4veVIDbVlVXnwN66T8-ATDdH42A61omKnZ2xy4_0NTRpN6sfOLKP1Ya5z5GENQowJ9bfGT0GED0slsmQRuRFZPiQPdwZDXDrv2gN1Dcw57QPBACA-K97ndtwbZLD1iLfFmePBeFS/s1600/054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYYqwz4veVIDbVlVXnwN66T8-ATDdH42A61omKnZ2xy4_0NTRpN6sfOLKP1Ya5z5GENQowJ9bfGT0GED0slsmQRuRFZPiQPdwZDXDrv2gN1Dcw57QPBACA-K97ndtwbZLD1iLfFmePBeFS/s640/054.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em> Yeah, I want them all to be Independant and able to function without me, but I also kinda cringe when they try to do things for themselves because of the Aftermath that entails!  In the way of Clean-Up and running Damage Control until everyone is more capable of doing THAT for themselves too in a mutually acceptable way.  Hey, if I'm gonna Dream, Dream Big I always say... it COULD HAPPEN!!!  *Winks*</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpChHfPqUEnO_yWfB9sGdS6MKoj9feugpav7sTCNW1oBhj8GEShheUucD3aZ079PztwY8YZSRLtDitmJWSNpui65eo6_p_WUyrR4kB3rH04J-mH9qCUXM3dMBZj52vk9zq6eyjZ6iDtv5T/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpChHfPqUEnO_yWfB9sGdS6MKoj9feugpav7sTCNW1oBhj8GEShheUucD3aZ079PztwY8YZSRLtDitmJWSNpui65eo6_p_WUyrR4kB3rH04J-mH9qCUXM3dMBZj52vk9zq6eyjZ6iDtv5T/s640/010.JPG" width="526" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Now, it's not so bad with me Feeling under the weather that I can do Nothing and I'm Grateful for that, but I FEEL like doing NOTHING you see.   And I Feel like just Resting and trying to get better without cleaning up after or tending to anyone but myself or having a Child Appendage.  If it were just me I could manage that... and know that as I lay down and slept this off, whatever it is I'm battling, when I woke up everything would still be as it was... in Order and not Chaos.  That nobody would be asking me to do anything for them when I'm barely feeling able to do anything for myself.  I could just be Sick for a while and concentrate on recuperation & doing whatever that took.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimZd9v9SZn38WgO6Z4OsxQwFIEIBMWUIjpATfe5VW-QMpZZyF5F7FpjUbng-NXuwAzUQFfmttKJKbZYEGN6oa027GX11k_qXei3hdFFCI8z96mx3ryzNREOfp5g_uEVJRhEJOFK6ZZDZiZ/s1600/026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimZd9v9SZn38WgO6Z4OsxQwFIEIBMWUIjpATfe5VW-QMpZZyF5F7FpjUbng-NXuwAzUQFfmttKJKbZYEGN6oa027GX11k_qXei3hdFFCI8z96mx3ryzNREOfp5g_uEVJRhEJOFK6ZZDZiZ/s640/026.JPG" width="536" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>But that is not the case... and so I never know what I'm gonna wake up TO?!?  If I even get to sleep uninterrupted that is.  Or whether it has reached the point of Declaring it a Disaster Area?  It's been a close Call a few times, so I'm only Hoping I Heal and get back up to speed quickly while there's still a semblance of Order in the House!!!  This Talk has helped dispell some of the frustration of feeling Sick and yet not being able to Afford to feel Sick.  And doing what needs and has to be done while feeling rather dreadful the whole time I'm doing it.  While also trying not to obsess about what isn't getting done, which isn't easy being OCD as I am and all because it disturbs me. *Smiles*  I'm no Domestic goddess by any means, but I do not like things left undone or seriously out of Order & Chaotic... it disturbs my Peace and puts me seriously out of Balance.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgplglMqtcFYwC_hCByZ3yjz05VjusGI1r2Ck8nRzvBubbr0XtIFcVa8GAr7xAVLrZQe3DiytsRLX5stEhWsuIq0Hxlj-axQWj045NGpfMRS4UGnQwLeuUBCVGAolNSU9youM8tkqsKVKBR/s1600/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgplglMqtcFYwC_hCByZ3yjz05VjusGI1r2Ck8nRzvBubbr0XtIFcVa8GAr7xAVLrZQe3DiytsRLX5stEhWsuIq0Hxlj-axQWj045NGpfMRS4UGnQwLeuUBCVGAolNSU9youM8tkqsKVKBR/s640/020.JPG" width="520" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Thankfully I feel much better than I did in the beginning... and since nobody around me is coming down with what I have I doubt I'm contagious and that is good since I sometimes have to be out and about getting some things done & don't want to feel like a Typhoid Mary.  I'm probably just run down, Immune suppressed from pushing myself too hard and having Seasonal Respiratory Issues which has been common to me as I'm Aging & the Seasons Change.  Darn Aging Thing... it tends not to come by itself!</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzgdyHcGGBtKtQ9hDHCK-9nbPTfO5a1Phdq1Nr2BejRNx9WNjjYcr7AUzZYcLWkP_Pr-VipJO4vsq83uaezmLe4FJeipZCMhnKYyqGRYmsrZFWiEUjtpIfC2na2eoVkqa0mmom-ZBsvNvR/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzgdyHcGGBtKtQ9hDHCK-9nbPTfO5a1Phdq1Nr2BejRNx9WNjjYcr7AUzZYcLWkP_Pr-VipJO4vsq83uaezmLe4FJeipZCMhnKYyqGRYmsrZFWiEUjtpIfC2na2eoVkqa0mmom-ZBsvNvR/s640/005.JPG" width="522" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em> I don't mind growing Old because it's certainly better than the alternative *winks*... but it does come with some mighty Challenging Baggage at times! *Le Sigh*  It's more of a Process to get back to 100% as  you Age I'm finding, even if you're usually tough as old boots.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJhWmxH3yI-r41grwywSpWH1xG4zZ_VYC0QDSJAWyOzUCWVLmKERh10Wn8yiVzBHOvPquXmLZU43x9ZukQOxOINmqbkIc1Rs2g2xNsZIoxXwv68F4QieL-wBQdl-8x6pcGEm2ZqSOhDBUS/s1600/021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJhWmxH3yI-r41grwywSpWH1xG4zZ_VYC0QDSJAWyOzUCWVLmKERh10Wn8yiVzBHOvPquXmLZU43x9ZukQOxOINmqbkIc1Rs2g2xNsZIoxXwv68F4QieL-wBQdl-8x6pcGEm2ZqSOhDBUS/s640/021.JPG" width="626" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Though I can fake it quite effectively when I have no choice.  And faking it 'til I make it puts me in a better frame of mind... so we'll Roll with that for now.  I want to Thank everyone for sending Healing Energies my way and Encouraging Words, it is helping in the Process... you guys TOTALLY ROCK!  And what would totally Rock even more right now would be a Team of Merry Maids in Ministry Mode!  Can't Help it, still Dreamin' Big!!!  *LOL*</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Blessings from the Arizona Desert... Dawn... The Bohemian</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div align="center"></div></div>

Declaring It A Disaster Area...

    DISCLAIMER: Gonna have me a little Blog Rant about the Disarray in Bohemian Valhalla since I've been down Sick these past few days.....

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Glimpses Of Halloween At Our House... And The Decline

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFnVElqIqUcdYhTH98YaJ9IPyEy-T2ZGfCGerAiVRPjRF7uOMdwwHkCmBC_5_N5AkDXv4FoX2rX_NKeFo4Uw0Kg6svEJNT3W88qKlZdeTs6tp7kaNCTIdq7b4tYOwlLOHryEJYBNVRrr8N/s1600/062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFnVElqIqUcdYhTH98YaJ9IPyEy-T2ZGfCGerAiVRPjRF7uOMdwwHkCmBC_5_N5AkDXv4FoX2rX_NKeFo4Uw0Kg6svEJNT3W88qKlZdeTs6tp7kaNCTIdq7b4tYOwlLOHryEJYBNVRrr8N/s640/062.JPG" width="590" /></a></div><br /><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><em>Today I'm going to give you Glimpses of Halloween at our House...</em></div><div align="center"><em></em> </div><div align="center"><em></em> </div><div align="center"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9gcjryzYq5WGZ1ARbVyLwWKKU0naO9_LwjrEjTq8Thqh_PNl_BgRzQqRxhGbxiGDGJgWPpvU1271xAcb9hTFbCrO_5rzJgyg5_U8ruve5qipOHc02855UNZfgA4KykM3k3H-tdDGsDRxx/s1600/070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9gcjryzYq5WGZ1ARbVyLwWKKU0naO9_LwjrEjTq8Thqh_PNl_BgRzQqRxhGbxiGDGJgWPpvU1271xAcb9hTFbCrO_5rzJgyg5_U8ruve5qipOHc02855UNZfgA4KykM3k3H-tdDGsDRxx/s640/070.JPG" width="548" /></a></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><em>You know, when I was a Younger Woman, I used to Decorate the ENTIRE House extravagantly for each Holiday Season.</em></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwGO11Wqu4cCeU9rMVXnbJIaRRMqhLrSuGgppubSqOLhRoNn669-R2FEjP38TiIFjhOLe4Zad1igUvhRSN0YZm8B6EkR2AA2-QL5sPnuPCo1GITb3GRwuzK-el7ngfiAYNZAQPcDSJ2PAq/s1600/070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwGO11Wqu4cCeU9rMVXnbJIaRRMqhLrSuGgppubSqOLhRoNn669-R2FEjP38TiIFjhOLe4Zad1igUvhRSN0YZm8B6EkR2AA2-QL5sPnuPCo1GITb3GRwuzK-el7ngfiAYNZAQPcDSJ2PAq/s640/070.JPG" width="612" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>I spent an enormous amount of Time Decorating and Transforming every room into a Fantasy Scape for whatever Holiday we were Celebrating.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKT-ncNjagTqeZPuQBknnKHf_1Tc_CFFdRQMnu32ATGpRh45X2Yc3IufA4x0tvvK7SaVFfaEGmryVoFnwAn-sFe2VY-KORKqOThOFH68FnW-pt_Ucvtxf19LisuvX2zEWLGad_3LeP1DU1/s1600/091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKT-ncNjagTqeZPuQBknnKHf_1Tc_CFFdRQMnu32ATGpRh45X2Yc3IufA4x0tvvK7SaVFfaEGmryVoFnwAn-sFe2VY-KORKqOThOFH68FnW-pt_Ucvtxf19LisuvX2zEWLGad_3LeP1DU1/s640/091.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><em>And even though I was always working a full time Career and raising a Family I always seemed to find the Time and Energy to do it year after year with Joy and Gusto.  I couldn't Imagine it being any other way!!!</em></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWjXQJ2q0D9_tk-oC14MPTcFy-PB2tYStKJOC6IPNlVq_QoOehHwy5utI2MT3GhTaqkY3U6oxITARS_QO4wgiXtw2APoLZ5ryzrzU2hJva9geaxECBhkDJOUbMeIV6GC4QXePmVm2pTDsH/s1600/060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWjXQJ2q0D9_tk-oC14MPTcFy-PB2tYStKJOC6IPNlVq_QoOehHwy5utI2MT3GhTaqkY3U6oxITARS_QO4wgiXtw2APoLZ5ryzrzU2hJva9geaxECBhkDJOUbMeIV6GC4QXePmVm2pTDsH/s640/060.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>But now... well, now so many years later... it is merely a Glimpse of each Holiday compared to what it used to be.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEKGey9JGdh8WQZVN1Mfm4MD7KmyHB6YVYtnl2ZK0m5Moo-zMJPw0Dq3qEMnSizK2S5PV0D8aUiBgkvRulDbTsnL5_LPceOiDMjHM1kiUBgSfRz0nbhT6ve70G1HzN6oPNqiZXU9U_nnLs/s1600/069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEKGey9JGdh8WQZVN1Mfm4MD7KmyHB6YVYtnl2ZK0m5Moo-zMJPw0Dq3qEMnSizK2S5PV0D8aUiBgkvRulDbTsnL5_LPceOiDMjHM1kiUBgSfRz0nbhT6ve70G1HzN6oPNqiZXU9U_nnLs/s640/069.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>It's not that I Enjoy it any less, and now that I'm Semi-Retired I would have thought I'd be more Inclined to do more... but I've found the contrary is true.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn-4bR4hNt9_6Sf1MzZl0-oee0oa12MRQuuNY5zzs-my3k66ZMLAEag8UStIIWv7TZ26JW-CgYvUugt1mKUj2W8UFphg1vLgoM0YJ4q0eR-EDgh_K12_UpBT0pdD9ORngYT0pEcgiou4af/s1600/063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn-4bR4hNt9_6Sf1MzZl0-oee0oa12MRQuuNY5zzs-my3k66ZMLAEag8UStIIWv7TZ26JW-CgYvUugt1mKUj2W8UFphg1vLgoM0YJ4q0eR-EDgh_K12_UpBT0pdD9ORngYT0pEcgiou4af/s640/063.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Each year I seem to do less... a gradual process of only smaller portions getting done... and though I'm pleased with them... I lament that it's a Shadow of what I used to be up to doing.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>  </em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnsBRcp2LCyPXPBTe1oCI0Db089wDNrHeVy6vbqICmT38BqGgmhyphenhyphen8Bc0CVSsPCrkQr03P7aNCe1yMuzGqWcT80quqBSubIAuOBHaxS8vJ-S25LPakCIkZAl5p2mPWb0-N5eVDuJvqEhTGA/s1600/052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnsBRcp2LCyPXPBTe1oCI0Db089wDNrHeVy6vbqICmT38BqGgmhyphenhyphen8Bc0CVSsPCrkQr03P7aNCe1yMuzGqWcT80quqBSubIAuOBHaxS8vJ-S25LPakCIkZAl5p2mPWb0-N5eVDuJvqEhTGA/s640/052.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>So far I've gotten the Mantle & Hearth of the Fireplace and the Coffee Table in the Livingroom Decorated for Halloween...</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjpkMiRsrp6NnSBrPu9YV7nlNIHyp_0ffEpwUtcwwosFxdWdsFgZTCoOTKyjDihNS0aqXI3hyphenhyphenfdge4lCzQXlxXXxQ5gl9EIvzi_2ov6xTb_3BntWk4YbVmfMn0nLp7L4fW1WuQ23sdK-_-/s1600/061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjpkMiRsrp6NnSBrPu9YV7nlNIHyp_0ffEpwUtcwwosFxdWdsFgZTCoOTKyjDihNS0aqXI3hyphenhyphenfdge4lCzQXlxXXxQ5gl9EIvzi_2ov6xTb_3BntWk4YbVmfMn0nLp7L4fW1WuQ23sdK-_-/s640/061.JPG" width="544" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>And one very small area of the Back Main Kitchen on a single China Cabinet... that's about it!!!</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr49lJWNAPGljG24FOuFSwNpI3rf3NajuXZUajDYPTWFJtP8YAdPhgVeKbY2GyCST6h9BZcDFqpz-IOiZcCzhWNkPk0nA0Oq4Vm5r1dBHbDyiiiOTHgq08KBrwBM498tmcXaxgWkTcvAJR/s1600/065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr49lJWNAPGljG24FOuFSwNpI3rf3NajuXZUajDYPTWFJtP8YAdPhgVeKbY2GyCST6h9BZcDFqpz-IOiZcCzhWNkPk0nA0Oq4Vm5r1dBHbDyiiiOTHgq08KBrwBM498tmcXaxgWkTcvAJR/s640/065.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Granted, I still Plan to do more... but not a whole lot more... and so it has been each year in the most recent decade.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2j4ThjRicHs1d-Wku9RVmMOkYrRLfxz9E81MBrjEPS-krkNiRJNbpuetqxS7XEzjlTmsYh1Ko1X3fl_Z1p_mPhXby3ScxQnIUVs3Nfxb6BEGSs_kMMwZnIVZid1HsAUKkLMI6DZLMCXeP/s1600/064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2j4ThjRicHs1d-Wku9RVmMOkYrRLfxz9E81MBrjEPS-krkNiRJNbpuetqxS7XEzjlTmsYh1Ko1X3fl_Z1p_mPhXby3ScxQnIUVs3Nfxb6BEGSs_kMMwZnIVZid1HsAUKkLMI6DZLMCXeP/s640/064.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>I'll probably limit myself to still Decorating  the Bistro Table in the Front Kitchen and the Front Porch and then I'll consider it Done.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw6F9XHBCBq9XS1xzFxkS5YMpKciQ-W7T9_ptBAhyMstC6ZWnXdRQcNdAgfMhsmj8_SXefEDD0tsHm4YeD0SagHpbe47YbxAvhUihGAfi1s9cRfsWVzXTgFy066ITljmQyq0CtZqAtPTXj/s1600/049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw6F9XHBCBq9XS1xzFxkS5YMpKciQ-W7T9_ptBAhyMstC6ZWnXdRQcNdAgfMhsmj8_SXefEDD0tsHm4YeD0SagHpbe47YbxAvhUihGAfi1s9cRfsWVzXTgFy066ITljmQyq0CtZqAtPTXj/s640/049.JPG" width="516" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>And in a way I'm disappointed in myself that such a feeble effort will suffice... especially when I really like going "All Out" for Holidays.  I just find that its so much Work and Effort that I don't get as much done as I would like to or I used to... I no longer have the Stamina necessary to go as "All Out" anymore.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgef4ohlyrCjTQnBLM3cRMAAJm5IQs5UmEgDoYHX2xXjds9wok8dubPpHeHzE7jHw3eaakboor6-fgm40mv5DfzalNotmRy-NXjIErrCF64TnX1M3EaRLFImA-4yDaVzDDWq0UYZ53NI2Qb/s1600/051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgef4ohlyrCjTQnBLM3cRMAAJm5IQs5UmEgDoYHX2xXjds9wok8dubPpHeHzE7jHw3eaakboor6-fgm40mv5DfzalNotmRy-NXjIErrCF64TnX1M3EaRLFImA-4yDaVzDDWq0UYZ53NI2Qb/s640/051.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>I find myself leaving more in Storage each year... or just Selling off or Donating larger portions of it since I'm not going to use it all anymore anyway, so why have so much that won't be utilized? </em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF98P-VC5qawBxSQ02Y7gS-gDHGa-EBbGRbDHXVWZb-NUROTyShvq0uEomzgTfAImFfHBeJQ3vypKi6cIS5mTd012MaDClP252wURxCGhvsAaayw1elS-0HoBupX3fQV6e3CUxvSTHpOH8/s1600/057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF98P-VC5qawBxSQ02Y7gS-gDHGa-EBbGRbDHXVWZb-NUROTyShvq0uEomzgTfAImFfHBeJQ3vypKi6cIS5mTd012MaDClP252wURxCGhvsAaayw1elS-0HoBupX3fQV6e3CUxvSTHpOH8/s640/057.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em> I'm no longer Decorating an Entire House I reason... and I don't buy nearly as much new Holiday Decor either.  Even if I'm Admiring it all at the Shops and Love wandering around looking at their Decor & what's new and On-Trend for the Holidays this year.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_yu4og_SC-XPow7ki4FpvkWaQpq8laWXUCF5BV3RgF739ArKQoxnkCi1PDObw8e5kLh6zuFZ33OGZ64tQ1hTv9dZxO5S-rFGu7hMX1wGmII83nM2fVBHoEwPXTMw7az9Zxb0X-rnbCr1K/s1600/086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_yu4og_SC-XPow7ki4FpvkWaQpq8laWXUCF5BV3RgF739ArKQoxnkCi1PDObw8e5kLh6zuFZ33OGZ64tQ1hTv9dZxO5S-rFGu7hMX1wGmII83nM2fVBHoEwPXTMw7az9Zxb0X-rnbCr1K/s640/086.JPG" width="548" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>And as I'm growing Older I find myself 'Becoming' more like my Parents... especially during Holidays!!!</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSI7MJaorN_r7UmiHRSLLdbFq7DMZ97JjU0E6ko4lxLn2XZnePTKVED-d2OWMW8pqWXv1_6XWmQdHuZKuLvzioI1B2-fhpK3vArFWoOrvuQRHr9bH1nJnDQpHSR10j0gLMCLeqAiC6rPu-/s1600/089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSI7MJaorN_r7UmiHRSLLdbFq7DMZ97JjU0E6ko4lxLn2XZnePTKVED-d2OWMW8pqWXv1_6XWmQdHuZKuLvzioI1B2-fhpK3vArFWoOrvuQRHr9bH1nJnDQpHSR10j0gLMCLeqAiC6rPu-/s640/089.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Now let me explain... my Parents always went "All Out" for everything & especially during the Holidays.  </em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbpDWxk9Vq1L_PJt7lIfvSr1XZ6NM91FRRvkk9MTizrJ4WMLITxG_3yI3tEpTa2Y-iFCbyMmCCJsOaYguh4bO1LGsC53mah_OfPxHMaSYxMovCVjKPICouOP9rd7-klDJ256LAqlESUKPI/s1600/048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbpDWxk9Vq1L_PJt7lIfvSr1XZ6NM91FRRvkk9MTizrJ4WMLITxG_3yI3tEpTa2Y-iFCbyMmCCJsOaYguh4bO1LGsC53mah_OfPxHMaSYxMovCVjKPICouOP9rd7-klDJ256LAqlESUKPI/s640/048.JPG" width="488" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>I have many fond Memories in fact of how "All Out" they always went to bring the Ambiance of Holidays into the Home & Transform it all into a Wonderland of whatever we were Celebrating and it was Magical and absolutely Enchanting!</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgduE71wMQdTh_PDiT-zyJWhzGrH5jnDfwk5Tn9lCJvyX6N8tEOnGj8AYzHioz9z_Hm0kJgU1FGZvdPN67_APxE1rQq58krK8-5Rd1fxfn7mXgqXdvQhtYLGHvkanLDSULCBx8jf2IRygs0/s1600/088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgduE71wMQdTh_PDiT-zyJWhzGrH5jnDfwk5Tn9lCJvyX6N8tEOnGj8AYzHioz9z_Hm0kJgU1FGZvdPN67_APxE1rQq58krK8-5Rd1fxfn7mXgqXdvQhtYLGHvkanLDSULCBx8jf2IRygs0/s640/088.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>They did it when I was growing up as a Child...</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic7j-i6q8Wn4qtdc8N944UYDedLMHXdnOrEL7xU0JFw4a5nBfogl7uRXNia1T4gUni4J3QbuMctsvmyaA7isnkRcxaBSbR9LlzhgWW6WH7YEULbjBU8b2kABVykYj6hiC4GkfUWbZ7Uy8k/s1600/092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="596" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic7j-i6q8Wn4qtdc8N944UYDedLMHXdnOrEL7xU0JFw4a5nBfogl7uRXNia1T4gUni4J3QbuMctsvmyaA7isnkRcxaBSbR9LlzhgWW6WH7YEULbjBU8b2kABVykYj6hiC4GkfUWbZ7Uy8k/s640/092.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>And they continued to do it when the first Grandchildren came along...</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkQENH6B9LsGTCr4k_d7HmU4Aff_GYob8TamdIw-wQrNcBVginvY9isghMnYXljiYNnJgZyGlx0JYPJM4U05vZnWU2Hhtf1EkwSNUQNVRb04UEdhOeaaY3Bp8fWo-ov0ATyeuZi_RD23Xg/s1600/094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkQENH6B9LsGTCr4k_d7HmU4Aff_GYob8TamdIw-wQrNcBVginvY9isghMnYXljiYNnJgZyGlx0JYPJM4U05vZnWU2Hhtf1EkwSNUQNVRb04UEdhOeaaY3Bp8fWo-ov0ATyeuZi_RD23Xg/s640/094.JPG" width="494" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>But then something Strange happened to them that I totally didn't understand.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2CTye5ottonB9Tq7mqkWsr8BMCQ2wMRkGCcu36WSjD4CM1YxtjWkIOb6QvvLre3kbx2st-40cCBv4uW8OvGzcK-nhVMlDM8L0dfRXj0YRMLl-jcqYvTun5YxIepvzhIhKykcgKi7jyrKS/s1600/070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="556" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2CTye5ottonB9Tq7mqkWsr8BMCQ2wMRkGCcu36WSjD4CM1YxtjWkIOb6QvvLre3kbx2st-40cCBv4uW8OvGzcK-nhVMlDM8L0dfRXj0YRMLl-jcqYvTun5YxIepvzhIhKykcgKi7jyrKS/s640/070.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>By the time the Oldest Grandchildren were grown they began to Decorate for the Holidays less and less.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBC4o83LwgXo5gmqgymCDvGOFURZZ1CgA1SBEk2LCy7Hzk7MPX4LA7eMr7q4pzs8IKWxpseK2s65ylkxb8GwYva794nXbncwWPHF-SUTnJitIxzu0wFaxf2mVaJoRhfUg2-6WcJ9tvkesX/s1600/095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBC4o83LwgXo5gmqgymCDvGOFURZZ1CgA1SBEk2LCy7Hzk7MPX4LA7eMr7q4pzs8IKWxpseK2s65ylkxb8GwYva794nXbncwWPHF-SUTnJitIxzu0wFaxf2mVaJoRhfUg2-6WcJ9tvkesX/s640/095.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Now don't get me wrong, they still Celebrated each Holiday and Season with gusto and Joy of the Season at hand... but the actual going "All Out" began to decline... bit by bit.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixBJjznYRQrgCpSek9xXAt-sd5TXcuCWaj2SzUnaBGRCtifGdc6qN9JjaIsMiptPIP4MFk14luNtmY6i6QhSQ37hnHXLxCk6nsNF1HFl9khNex5g0J_T_UtysFxj5OgYhUiEBdsB6ZnpT-/s1600/096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixBJjznYRQrgCpSek9xXAt-sd5TXcuCWaj2SzUnaBGRCtifGdc6qN9JjaIsMiptPIP4MFk14luNtmY6i6QhSQ37hnHXLxCk6nsNF1HFl9khNex5g0J_T_UtysFxj5OgYhUiEBdsB6ZnpT-/s640/096.JPG" width="538" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>I saw them doing less and less... and actually would have probably done even less had they not been prompted by us to continue with the Magic they had always Created in their Homes, but I sensed they would have been Okay with the diminished Decor... and I didn't understand how they could!?</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVzCmG-Pg-fmhjRMJxjI6cehw2Dr__YNk77LT3MbeiK8ApZXHGatN8ggSNgqY1okuOCxrgy9tY8HZaZYMGM0iI-RGXz-XMTNjhFGza1ns2_K3vwkV5ChbqXfpgSdXWYo_pqeSclU2jQXZS/s1600/106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVzCmG-Pg-fmhjRMJxjI6cehw2Dr__YNk77LT3MbeiK8ApZXHGatN8ggSNgqY1okuOCxrgy9tY8HZaZYMGM0iI-RGXz-XMTNjhFGza1ns2_K3vwkV5ChbqXfpgSdXWYo_pqeSclU2jQXZS/s640/106.JPG" width="534" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>After all, Dad was a Master Chef and so the Holidays were always filled with his beyond Amazing Culinary Genius and he always invited many over for the Holidays to partake in the Holiday Meals and the Specialty Items he made for everyone to take Home with them afterwards.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlucBzMk3Jwh-ojo_DaD_70-upFHWGNOxjaQ4mt2zKkKW5IW_1HNuAoG1d8I6FMBQP_3-_hKHBCMZsxnd3Cegi1-ygb3bGMTUYjnItd1s3bVy0FH-DsTVNCEPSPYqByyRYJGxamFpQAbUq/s1600/109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlucBzMk3Jwh-ojo_DaD_70-upFHWGNOxjaQ4mt2zKkKW5IW_1HNuAoG1d8I6FMBQP_3-_hKHBCMZsxnd3Cegi1-ygb3bGMTUYjnItd1s3bVy0FH-DsTVNCEPSPYqByyRYJGxamFpQAbUq/s640/109.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><em>We all counted on it in fact... to receive the Pies, Confections and Party Mixes he made from scratch for each Holiday.  I guess I never even considered all the Talent, WORK and TIME that went into it all.</em></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwcaj8OBXMXRe0jD45wSnl1RrFsqC3v58bZoVS2srhPorEBrhkm1N3oIHIbqx5voHYk2w6_xTFQw7-nZzKCPAb9xGSQ0aWwn6fbFUNbFFC_Fmo9MIwgGaP8-n1sW1ieDWz1J4NGUj-9Z4P/s1600/100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="582" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwcaj8OBXMXRe0jD45wSnl1RrFsqC3v58bZoVS2srhPorEBrhkm1N3oIHIbqx5voHYk2w6_xTFQw7-nZzKCPAb9xGSQ0aWwn6fbFUNbFFC_Fmo9MIwgGaP8-n1sW1ieDWz1J4NGUj-9Z4P/s640/100.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>And then there was Mom... who always ADORED Adorning, Styling and Decorating so she made every Home she lived in look absolutely Amazing and particularly so during the Holiday Seasons.  I guess I never realized how accomplishing all that wasn't effortless, but was in fact, a LOT of Work and Personal Sacrifice, not to mention the Stamina & Dedication it required!</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgun4RsddE4QeAPSic2COzRL2n8PtTmU4cJrwFxwWmtGsM8CJS0OMvvKwk27Ozq1FYLeYy8HtoYJqkq8mZ-LriKT1Ftgb3rP-Li1nyHfHqba9aDZLUzs8F8licXUZIZUbojJdR-NlgV0DrR/s1600/102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgun4RsddE4QeAPSic2COzRL2n8PtTmU4cJrwFxwWmtGsM8CJS0OMvvKwk27Ozq1FYLeYy8HtoYJqkq8mZ-LriKT1Ftgb3rP-Li1nyHfHqba9aDZLUzs8F8licXUZIZUbojJdR-NlgV0DrR/s640/102.JPG" width="622" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>And she Loved to Bake and had her particular Specialties that we always looked forward to her making more than one of so that each of us, Friends and Family, could bring some Home with us too! I never really thought about all the added Expense... and the Time she and Dad must have spent in the Kitchen ensuring that enough was made for everyone!</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsMxbJ4k3LJ6Rz9bsjwuChe5ZJikO3l8sZ5pFmZTlkhJqbGFYiOMOFhTk3uX5MBTlN3qFXX0W5MEqjzHf19pGQy2JzVQ9Z3R5cj1EexWr2EAqWiL7hJ4yPI9_wWb5TE4xmcUvANcTdO-y8/s1600/107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsMxbJ4k3LJ6Rz9bsjwuChe5ZJikO3l8sZ5pFmZTlkhJqbGFYiOMOFhTk3uX5MBTlN3qFXX0W5MEqjzHf19pGQy2JzVQ9Z3R5cj1EexWr2EAqWiL7hJ4yPI9_wWb5TE4xmcUvANcTdO-y8/s640/107.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>And there were the Holiday Get-Togethers... where everyone would congregate at each other's Homes for weeks prior to every Holiday and then again ON the actual Holiday.  We all spent a lot of Time and Resources having those Special Moments Together.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcrOcS62-S3jeM61rk3QUb2rlYiMC_WG5CY3JMjinDwMMyog5D0hVB-Lk0h_gKpIL7BG7o1hb6H33MDSJAnw4wHCWUldWh5__Rb9Ao_GoIpcN2h6-07gBV9aDGTbnRhVC6AIKro-DK5HY6/s1600/105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcrOcS62-S3jeM61rk3QUb2rlYiMC_WG5CY3JMjinDwMMyog5D0hVB-Lk0h_gKpIL7BG7o1hb6H33MDSJAnw4wHCWUldWh5__Rb9Ao_GoIpcN2h6-07gBV9aDGTbnRhVC6AIKro-DK5HY6/s640/105.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>But as my Parents Aged... and got into their Senior years... the years The Man and I are finding ourselves entering into now... the decline began in it all.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE_Wdl7M5XnVIO-cAqP4FahCALX-Fw9NCqaQdWXaEtL_BwjtPYy4eCBA-2Wdk57utlRXm6Gq1o1W49Zp20ha5vQ8obFqSzCTD5Mr9-Qam2P1b1meLDkfg6Jh6GZBRxRHlQOa6bATpl_nP6/s1600/099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE_Wdl7M5XnVIO-cAqP4FahCALX-Fw9NCqaQdWXaEtL_BwjtPYy4eCBA-2Wdk57utlRXm6Gq1o1W49Zp20ha5vQ8obFqSzCTD5Mr9-Qam2P1b1meLDkfg6Jh6GZBRxRHlQOa6bATpl_nP6/s640/099.JPG" width="608" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>And I didn't understand it at all then... when it was happening to THEM ...*winks*... but now that it's happening to US... well, I'm beginning to understand somewhat of what was actually happening.  It is said that "Until It's You" there is really no point of reference... and that is the Truth!</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEgP21IaGU3Oo3xMK15SoNsxUUUoqpSVYVH7EU4BUEzHVY75k0Sbvyz3UhohOF9P-Iq-aA7zNdzaOzx1K_OpplNRtz_cS9p0IJuAhJ3jkWysiRhcCN3ge0KDbDEFPcggdQp-blnZRvvvCQ/s1600/102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEgP21IaGU3Oo3xMK15SoNsxUUUoqpSVYVH7EU4BUEzHVY75k0Sbvyz3UhohOF9P-Iq-aA7zNdzaOzx1K_OpplNRtz_cS9p0IJuAhJ3jkWysiRhcCN3ge0KDbDEFPcggdQp-blnZRvvvCQ/s640/102.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>No... it wasn't that they weren't Enjoying the Holidays any less than they ever had or the looking forward to them... that Abided...</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0-eIgS9AzJZxB3rTyki2_jHd48IHPgr1Kph6KBNmiVkH9Z4RzZXwjk8e7PvcOS7eYf1aSjXQypBzHqstDVeTOGIHpXhU3lix4uGJTestHvatVF0Dsy-_nf6Et-X-pK57uL0pdCHXpvdvy/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0-eIgS9AzJZxB3rTyki2_jHd48IHPgr1Kph6KBNmiVkH9Z4RzZXwjk8e7PvcOS7eYf1aSjXQypBzHqstDVeTOGIHpXhU3lix4uGJTestHvatVF0Dsy-_nf6Et-X-pK57uL0pdCHXpvdvy/s640/008.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><em>But they were finding themselves with less Energy, Stamina, Resources and Desire to put that much Effort and Expense into going "All Out" anymore.</em></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6A15r8IodaofN7ucBS0NFXID9Bdy_qgk60YI_KejfLewl67uPl0x01NQXB4CTsK6jay_-Wh74vqKroLpTfLt0E_k3mp5tWj9ZHOVj25sVphOGH4tQFejThQTHVVDmKFCs2kSDGY4a7kF1/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6A15r8IodaofN7ucBS0NFXID9Bdy_qgk60YI_KejfLewl67uPl0x01NQXB4CTsK6jay_-Wh74vqKroLpTfLt0E_k3mp5tWj9ZHOVj25sVphOGH4tQFejThQTHVVDmKFCs2kSDGY4a7kF1/s640/012.JPG" width="514" /></a></div><br /><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><em>Sometimes it just wasn't even possible or feasible, given that limitations and Health related Issues were setting in over Time... making it more of a struggle to do as much as they used to be able to do with ease or without help.</em></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsvsUPqjYV8I_VPvT6J7lGt584mMMtiIAU6uR6-C4nN28eBQ_YW3xLCLao4ZzXjnHTP9G5gGifexowpqNZPUDf8ThlE-jAqxZGKZahl7pjcHMp4qd6N0_1HKa0RtCDT28cPLSeX8hV59dB/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsvsUPqjYV8I_VPvT6J7lGt584mMMtiIAU6uR6-C4nN28eBQ_YW3xLCLao4ZzXjnHTP9G5gGifexowpqNZPUDf8ThlE-jAqxZGKZahl7pjcHMp4qd6N0_1HKa0RtCDT28cPLSeX8hV59dB/s640/010.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><em>And now I find myself at that Season of Life where I totally 'Get It' because though I'd LOVE to still be able to go "All Out", I don't need to so much anymore just because what I am able to still do has become enough.</em></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgblv4A14LUS6YpFrj77SASeOLZM2SmjiE9GEh0aY6p0Yp6Fy-WHaIUcwLkR177g31bK_FRtM3Arqapw0ILSEJ71xVM9BC-B3uFLl94I9t4F2ftEITrJp2n6SfE2VoAYqb3A0sqKeT3OGCz/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgblv4A14LUS6YpFrj77SASeOLZM2SmjiE9GEh0aY6p0Yp6Fy-WHaIUcwLkR177g31bK_FRtM3Arqapw0ILSEJ71xVM9BC-B3uFLl94I9t4F2ftEITrJp2n6SfE2VoAYqb3A0sqKeT3OGCz/s640/016.JPG" width="516" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>It has HAD to become enough... and gradually you embrace how much is enough for you at any given time and circumstances you happen to find yourself in.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOOT_h0AR5h1_AvuBxL3QwCcGWEjRYkovTna75ALYvRxOzm9XEf-hFlIcn8oQKnmTvnHLBSPCbvAYnrVFnV3pMXVH2OFbI7iYz51bCzmlASYWyLeZrV5QqQjx6a_C3ozDeVj_pjCYTuE0c/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOOT_h0AR5h1_AvuBxL3QwCcGWEjRYkovTna75ALYvRxOzm9XEf-hFlIcn8oQKnmTvnHLBSPCbvAYnrVFnV3pMXVH2OFbI7iYz51bCzmlASYWyLeZrV5QqQjx6a_C3ozDeVj_pjCYTuE0c/s640/011.JPG" width="536" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>And yes, I fondly recall those Years when we always went "All Out"... and it's not as if it declined rapidly, it was in fact a gradual process of scaling back.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe4sjG3Psc0as8E81stYlAfwIzJvmP33nIVon2WZYkbOMSgSgvzlMDLPDNJCYOvuh4rNnWI3t_d0f_U8olpnw5Yw3GRwQEdgMfSwbhzi0ogdtkvLFe929mmP_jhpbteLpNmX2J8R6BRAsC/s1600/098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe4sjG3Psc0as8E81stYlAfwIzJvmP33nIVon2WZYkbOMSgSgvzlMDLPDNJCYOvuh4rNnWI3t_d0f_U8olpnw5Yw3GRwQEdgMfSwbhzi0ogdtkvLFe929mmP_jhpbteLpNmX2J8R6BRAsC/s640/098.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>And so I cannot say that the Family is being deprived of anything... we were probably always so </em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Over-The-Top that by most people's Standards we still do more than 'Average'?!  *LOL*</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR9o6tQDLv7911cfovQDAqTFAPk-Ga1ZbTGknnjZ_d6bWhueba0fdmt2u8i-E8gshuJO3w8nKliMY4zm34rl_0Dq2Z0lFptS3sRhe5H_qYtROv3Fo0Vf1oxBkpRXSXtugV5rJ-XotGVjdL/s1600/099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR9o6tQDLv7911cfovQDAqTFAPk-Ga1ZbTGknnjZ_d6bWhueba0fdmt2u8i-E8gshuJO3w8nKliMY4zm34rl_0Dq2Z0lFptS3sRhe5H_qYtROv3Fo0Vf1oxBkpRXSXtugV5rJ-XotGVjdL/s640/099.JPG" width="560" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>But for us anyway it is a whole lot less than it used to be and so that seems rather Strange and insufficient.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTFIw8vtxyEgNdbC58RMO6Bp4-IX-ABVyKZNIBRGibxPmEt43vi-GvOcw1pyQIEqIjN_fGtK6tSJezpkhGtHXyjLPYgwKQ7aSn_y73RjeeJDUauQxYLzVwWlZd3vpajOFax0-CeHol0oEY/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTFIw8vtxyEgNdbC58RMO6Bp4-IX-ABVyKZNIBRGibxPmEt43vi-GvOcw1pyQIEqIjN_fGtK6tSJezpkhGtHXyjLPYgwKQ7aSn_y73RjeeJDUauQxYLzVwWlZd3vpajOFax0-CeHol0oEY/s640/007.JPG" width="592" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>And at times I still get a bit disappointed at myself that I'm heading in that same direction that I lamented that my Parents headed at the junction of becoming Seniors.</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHd6hK3pXOT_wvjXk3LvVqNpO8xpa72ljEwS89ywknYl0zjEObhxjBOYZEvXxBEqG0eWeCm68M3IIoK0aDoeBge23TLL9cwr8u1b1VPJBxx3WNRxrUCokt2RTZYNpVWtm168LW3N5dVAr-/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHd6hK3pXOT_wvjXk3LvVqNpO8xpa72ljEwS89ywknYl0zjEObhxjBOYZEvXxBEqG0eWeCm68M3IIoK0aDoeBge23TLL9cwr8u1b1VPJBxx3WNRxrUCokt2RTZYNpVWtm168LW3N5dVAr-/s640/002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><em>And perhaps that disappointment isn't so much about the Decorating, Hosting & Styling as much as it is about the Age related limitations and circumstances you find yourself dealing with as Time rolls on?</em></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC_hmmGMeWwCxRwFNO3z9rJrJkjQ8qc3DkTxWmGRucfRaknAEFzEl6EkhqILeC4EKQBUQ8w1BXMQGvYR20LYoEMbBh9Qhfpvyrs21zbaHsoCCCZzyCTzkPnqXXndk3tsEhwmti1ASrCxpo/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC_hmmGMeWwCxRwFNO3z9rJrJkjQ8qc3DkTxWmGRucfRaknAEFzEl6EkhqILeC4EKQBUQ8w1BXMQGvYR20LYoEMbBh9Qhfpvyrs21zbaHsoCCCZzyCTzkPnqXXndk3tsEhwmti1ASrCxpo/s640/003.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Where you can't always do what you used to... or as much as you used to... or even <u>want to</u> most of the time... *LOL*  And though the Kids are Grown & some of our G-Kids are Grown now, the ones we're raising are some of the Younger ones that still Need and Expect the Magic and Enchantment they've come to know and Anticipate at this Ole' House during the Holiday Seasons.... the Transformation to a Fantasy Scape. </em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzuZN99dSldfA_LuB6e2oBb3NiaXphyphenhyphenveuy39u5hxF-5cKEFWQZBnHICFSdwd0o-6hsg6J09NUpFeYdV1j1NKLYW4Me_h-GtYRNT7o1qtX-opsyi65hcuxzT1CShzzTMoECOiGoSiO0oWo/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="526" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzuZN99dSldfA_LuB6e2oBb3NiaXphyphenhyphenveuy39u5hxF-5cKEFWQZBnHICFSdwd0o-6hsg6J09NUpFeYdV1j1NKLYW4Me_h-GtYRNT7o1qtX-opsyi65hcuxzT1CShzzTMoECOiGoSiO0oWo/s640/004.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>"Is this ALL we're doing?" the G-Kid Force said, barely hiding their disappointment, when I seemed rather Content & Satisfied with what little we had done in the scope of Halloween Decorating thus far.  And was pretty Tired from the rather minimal Effort I might add. {Notice Glum Princess Face in the background.}</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em></em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX1sx8u4ja67Yqlji2nkiIeubFgykZHBGdbhiJKKj3SwpVArVUsqtlhmS6PEJt0hN1Ne0Pv8briiFTGwOx_rXDth579JDwqGG5fZPlEgxgt-TJzfgRs2zy61NQsF784kWilr_aZEwwUAgN/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="544" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX1sx8u4ja67Yqlji2nkiIeubFgykZHBGdbhiJKKj3SwpVArVUsqtlhmS6PEJt0hN1Ne0Pv8briiFTGwOx_rXDth579JDwqGG5fZPlEgxgt-TJzfgRs2zy61NQsF784kWilr_aZEwwUAgN/s640/005.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><em>"No... we've still got some more to do, but not Today... we'll keep working on it Okay?" I says. {Notice Grinning Princess Face in the background now!}  And yes, I'll probably end up doing far more than I would if they weren't prompting me... just like my Parents used to at our promptings. And maybe that's just how it's supposed to be...</em><br /><em></em><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp-m7n1aj8YncOGlZiyHEUUKtmgVyuuCuEVriikQN6bjbPaICPcT6qKs8BNFxHuI-i-4GhUkmr7NY1_SsFJcnWyqPNjFMi1ZQ_zhsvZdFShWS1CfELyXNWXnARI7H4QG22q0D-V0DFgiPN/s1600/HalloweenPartyInvitationuntitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp-m7n1aj8YncOGlZiyHEUUKtmgVyuuCuEVriikQN6bjbPaICPcT6qKs8BNFxHuI-i-4GhUkmr7NY1_SsFJcnWyqPNjFMi1ZQ_zhsvZdFShWS1CfELyXNWXnARI7H4QG22q0D-V0DFgiPN/s1600/HalloweenPartyInvitationuntitled.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4rmeOqTdPyalHs8N3U0Xc5tlC8RdYVNZ5wrY6M3S7XcVMLsmwC_jNouJHuyvZEXWooxiYa_T2kxGJ6I61HwcTgJIQ4Y2AGgv9zbJz4mKFfZ4fIWa96FnNSCGWi8kuCO__ENzs8dtuKpR/s1600/HalloweenParty+2012untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4rmeOqTdPyalHs8N3U0Xc5tlC8RdYVNZ5wrY6M3S7XcVMLsmwC_jNouJHuyvZEXWooxiYa_T2kxGJ6I61HwcTgJIQ4Y2AGgv9zbJz4mKFfZ4fIWa96FnNSCGWi8kuCO__ENzs8dtuKpR/s640/HalloweenParty+2012untitled.png" width="443" /></a></div><br /><em>Source: <a href="http://afancifultwist.typepad.com/a_fanciful_twist/2012/09/halloween-party-2012-an-invitation.html#comment-6a00d83451d99869e2017ee3e3c118970d"><strong><span style="color: orange;">A FANCIFUL TWIST</span></strong></a> Blog</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>And if Halloween Parties and Blogging Fun is something you just simply cannot Resist... you are cordially Invited to sign up for the 5th Annual Halloween Blog Party being Hosted by the Lovely Vanessa Valencia of <a href="http://afancifultwist.typepad.com/a_fanciful_twist/2012/09/halloween-party-2012-an-invitation.html#comment-6a00d83451d99869e2017ee3e3c118970d"><strong><span style="color: orange;">A FANCIFUL TWIST</span></strong></a> Blog, which will be held October 27th!</em></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><em>Blessings from the Arizona Desert... Dawn... The Bohemian</em></div></div>

Glimpses Of Halloween At Our House... And The Decline

  Today I'm going to give you Glimpses of Halloween at our House...      You know, when I was a Younger Woman, I used to Decorate the E...

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