Monday, December 26, 2011

HAVE YOU NOTICED...I'VE BEEN MISSING!

Hi, Blogger Friends.  I've been away for quite some time.  I just seemed to lose steam with my blog and felt I had nothing to say.  I also seem to stay busy with one thing or another and so have really neglected all of you.  I'm so sorryJ  I don't want to give up CHERI'S  CHATTER quite yet, so please hang in there with me and come back to visit when you can.



Needless to say, I (like all of you) have had Christmas on my mind.  I think I somewhat "overdid" it this year with spending, cooking, and rushing from place to place…but I always try to remember to be mindful of the REASON for the SEASON.


The grandkids are growing and, of course, they were very excited about that "special visitor" who brought them lots of new toys…along with two over-indulgent grandparents! 






 
My  SPECIAL  SANTA  was very generous this year, too.  He gave me an


 
ipad and I definitely wasn't expecting that!  It will definitely take me awhile to figure it all out.  I tried reading the MANUAL….but have you ever looked at a manual for any electronic gadget these days?  Those techi-people must not understand that there are technology-challenged people like me that need directions written in plain English versus tech-ese!  I've just started experimenting and clicking on my own and have already learned a few things.  I know I will enjoy it…once I get the hang of it.
Santa also gave me lots of other goodies, including these…..


As some of you may remember, my "grandmother name" is  CHERI.  I wonder if I'm the only  CHERI  with  CHERRY  rainboots? 

Another favorite gift was....



They will be used with some upcoming SCRAPBOOKING projects.  I absolutely
l-o-v-e gel pens!


Just like many of you, I had LOTS of PROJECTS going on during the holidays.  There was our annual  COOKIE BAKING DAY…..


 
and making GOODIE BAGS for classmates & friends…

 
There was decorating, party-going, visiting with our families, and more eating than I want to admit.  All in all it was a wonderful Christmas!  Now it's time to UNDECORATE (which I absolutely hate) and once again get back to "normal" living (whatever that is!)  I am looking forward to 2012 and am hoping it will be a wonderful year for all of us.  One of my GOALS (as you may remember from my last year's post…I don't do RESOLUTIONS) is to definitely get reacquainted with all of you and pay more attention to my blog.  So…..PLEASE come back to visit me


and visit as often as you can.  I hope to have some great posts which I think you might like.  Until then HAVE A VERY BLESSED NEW YEAR!

17 comments:

  1. Since we celebrate Christmas in our own way, it is not nearly as hectic as if we were around family, and we have no children; hence no grandchildren.

    We used to pig out with a circle of similar friends until we all had a lightbulb experience--Why didn't we lather all we wasted on ourselves outside our circle.

    For the most part we each have done this and find Christmas much more peaceful. My husband and I are from different backgrounds and even to a degree cultures, certainly cuisines. That is why I hate to cook.

    But we adopt a family for a program sponsored by area newspaper called Christmas Wish, as well as our Life Group at church also adopts three families from area schools which keep lists of needy families. We concentrate on the children, but food is also a part of Christmas. We buy complete cooked turkey dinners which serve 8-12 from a local grocery chain. They are very good because we ate one ourselves. You just warm it up.

    We give a small tip to people who serve us for low pay, like housekeeper, paper delivery.

    I feel privileged at this age (75) to be able together to do this.

    We each pick our own Christmas and Birthday gifts. We spent 42 years of misgifting each other. So in our 43rd year we decided to do it this way with no $ limitation as long a we can psy the bills. Works out fine for us. I am a Texan with definite preference for Tex-Mex and he is So. Carolinian from the Gullah cuisine area.

    Try writing only once, maybe twice a week. Works for me. I am not in competition for lists of hundreds of followers. I just like to write.

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  2. Welcome back, even if only temporarily! I haven't posted in four months, and my blog list has many absentees, so it must just be the times we live in that there are so many distractions. Happy new year to you, too!

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  3. You don't have to keep up with the blog "jones"...it's your blog and it can be done your way and those of us who love 'ya will continue to check in whenever you have something on your mind! Have a wonderful New Year and I'm glad you had such a great Christmas!

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  4. I SURE HAVE noticed that you've been missing! I just scrolled down my sidebar this past week checking to see if I had missed updates! Happy to hear that you all had a nice Christmas, we did too! The Grandkids all seemed like they were happy with the gifts and cookie making:) Enjoy your week and don't stay gone so long! Some bloggers (ME) blog every day and some blog once a week, some blog when they have something to say! My older Sister looks forward to seeing what I am up to! Even though she lives close by, she doesn't get out much and loves all of the pictures! It is my journal and I use it to check back on certain dates etc. I try to take time off and it just doesn't work for me:)

    BIG HUGS to you and a VERY MERRY LATE CHRISTMAS WISH from my heart to yours!

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  5. Hi Cheri,
    I completely understand and yes, I've noticed you've been missing. I've missed you.
    Love the photos of the kids having so much fun. I'd love to have an Ipad too, that's a great gift. Love your cherry boots also.

    See you back here soon.

    hugs
    Sissie

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  6. Christmas was a bit different for us this year. I did my shopping from my easy chair, limited my baking to family favorites and, instead of traveling to PA, chose to stay at home. What a blessing!

    I love your cherry boots!

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  7. I've missed you greatly!!! Yesterday I checked your blog looking to see if you posted a Christmas message but didn't see anything new. All I can say is that it is wonderful to see you back and that all is well with you and your family. Don't be so scarce in 2012!!

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  8. I know what to do with the cute boots, but that electronic gadget-not so much! Thank goodness I now have a geeky son-in-law. He's wonderful!♥♫

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  9. Merry Christmas! I love my iPad. My best advice is to go to the iBooks and download the free book called iPad User Guide. It's very helpful and explains clearly.
    Love your boots too! So glad to know you had a wonderful Christmas! Those grandkids sure are cute!

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  10. Hi Cheri,
    So happy to see a post from you!
    The kiddies are adorable and you sure did good this Christmas for presents!
    And i swear your tree and mine are decorated almost identical.
    Hugs friend,
    Cindy

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  11. I'm glad you're back. Looks like Santa brought you some great stuff. I ordered myself a Keurig coffee maker. I will take my two grandchildren to B&N to buy books when the crowds thin down. But other than that, I didn't spend a dime. Proud of myself.
    Brenda

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  12. Well..it's over! Yep..Christmas is over for another year..and I am coveting a few things! Like your pens for instance..not to mention those cherry covered boots. We shouldn't "covet" should we?? :)
    AN IPAD!! GET OUT! I never get things like that! *sigh*
    Happy New Year dear friend!!
    Don't make yourself too scarce this coming year. Ok??
    HUGS!!
    Mona

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  13. I can related to the UN-decorating! I did mine yesterday and it's awful. There should be special Grinch carols to listen to - or maybe a big reward at the end would be better.

    Looks like you had a wonderful Christmas -as did we. Being over-indulgent grandparents is just the best!

    Wishing you and yours a Happy New Year.

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  14. I read NitWit1's post and I just adore the fact that they open their lives to others who need a carin' family. This was just beautiful.

    Welcome back sweetie, it's good to see ya up in the blogasphere again.

    I see ya'll had a wonderful Christmas. We aren't havin' our here on the Ponderosa 'till Saturday. I'm kinda like an excited kid waitin' for Santa. Woohoo!!!

    God bless ya and have a fantastic New Year!!! :o)

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  15. Hello Cheri,
    Lovely, warm Christmas photos! Life does get busy and we do have to balance...have missed you! I am hanging in there and wish you a very Delightsome New Year,
    Kathy

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  16. Hi Cheri, I just came back recently after a four month absence and trying hard to get back into the "swing" of things.

    I missed you too, but I'm happy to see that all is well. Boy, the grands have grown this past year. I remember the pics from last year's cookie baking day and these are as cute as ever.

    Happy New Year, sweet friend, looking forward to another year of blogging together. Now don't you go away again for so long again, ya' hear?

    xoxoxoxoxox

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Please stop and "chat" with me...I love hearing what you have to say!