"But in this season it is well to reassert that the hope of mankind rests in faith. As man thinketh, so he is. Nothing much happens unless you believe in it, and believing there is hope for the world is a way to move toward it" Gladys Talser

It was a wonderful Christmas week. The kids and granddogs were all here on Christmas Eve for lasagna and a rousing game of "The Office," followed by late-night Christmas Eve services at church. Jeff and Conni sent us a lovely gift box of coffees, scones, crumpets and muffins, which we enjoyed on Christmas morning with "The Wake-Up Casserole." Then we opened presents.

Lindsey models her new pink coat.

Candace and Rob monitor the dog activity on Christmas Eve


I got Chanel No. 5 and chocolate cherry kiss coffee from Rob and Candace, and a gift card for Talbots and some red leather Ralph Lauren gloves from Bob. From Lindsey and Brent I got some workout clothes, and probably the best gift of all time, the first year of this blog published into book form. Here it is:

Bob is on the back cover in his jammie pants. I guess the lesson for all of us here is that if your picture happens to appear on this blog, look out, because it just might end up in print ENLARGED and everything. I love it!!!

For Christmas dinner, we served our standing rib roast with our new traditional shitake mushroom gratin, apple/walnut/cherry salad with maple dressing, corn from the freezer, rolls, and cherry pie. We also enjoyed shrimp and The Other Cheeseball as appetizers.

The next day, December 26th, Boxing Day, we did nothing. I mean, absolutely nothing. We did bathe, and watch some movies, such as "The Other Boleyn Girl," and "A Christmas Carol." (1951 with Alistair Sim) We also babysat granddog number 2, Bonnie the Barbarian while Brent and Lindsey went out with friends. Here she is under our Christmas tree, on some Navy SEAL covert operation, no doubt. Lindsey was lamenting the fact that Bonnie does not have a really cool AKC medallion around her neck, like Roxanne wears. I told her that her dog should probably wear one of those iron balls with spikes on it, like the Vikings used to carry. This dog needs a project, or maybe a job. We spent a lot of time outside with her, sliding around on the ice, while she rooted around in our bushes and under our deck. "What in the heck are you doing???" I wish we had some rats or weasels to entertain her with. Oh, speaking of sliding around on ice, did I mention that I fell coming out of church on Christmas Eve? It was probably Bob's fault, because he insisted that I take a different route to the car than the one I took entering the church. He THOUGHT it would be a better way to go. I might have internal injuries.

December 26th, the slick-ice day of doing absolutely nothing, - Boxing Day, was also the birthday of Maddie, the Amazing Barking Dog. Maddie is nine years old which is 63 in people years, and this causes me to pause and ponder her progress:

Maddie: You're 63 now, and that's pretty old. You're also a Shetland Sheepdog, number 6 on the dog intelligence according to breed list, and this means you really should be pretty darned smart. But, I've decided that there are some things that you're never going to get! Every Monday morning sometime between 5:30 and 6:00 AM, that truck that comes by - it's the garbage truck. Those guys come by EVERY MONDAY. No need to blow a gasket. And those people who live next door? We've been living next to them for ELEVEN YEARS! You KNOW THEM! They talk nice to you. Why must you charge over there at them every time you see them step outside the house like you think they're coming to get the good silver? (if there was any good silver to get.)

And why is it necessary to run downstairs and bite the back of the treadmill belt every time you hear it start up? A little rotating dog slobber and my job is done here? Is that it? Why do you do the same things over and over again?? And the vacuum cleaner - what has it ever done to you, and why must you be so vicious? It's not like anybody has ever chased you with it - okay, well, maybe just a little. Then, of course, there's always the obvious question - what's up with all the barking? I don't think we'll ever know what's going on inside your head. Perhaps having a brain the size of a walnut limits understanding. Happy Birthday.

This Week in Cakes: Thank-you carrot cakes to the people who allowed the boys to hunt ducks and geese on their land - to be followed by "Happy New Year" carrot cakes for the neighbors

Recipe of the Week: Is Vera Bradley's Glazed Pork Roast. I fixed this Sunday night, and will put the leftovers in the crockpot and serve on buns for Monday night's supper.

Vera's Glazed Pork Roast

1 rolled boneless pork roast or tenderloin

1 teaspoon chili powder

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup ketchup 1 cup apple jelly

2 tablespoons vinegar

Rub the pork with a mixture of the chili powder, garlic powder and salt. Place the pork on a rack in a roasting pan. Place in q 450 degree oven. Reduce the oven temperature to 250 degrees. Roast 40 to 45 minutes per pound or until a meat thermometer inserted in the thickest portion registers 185 degrees.

Whisk the ketchup, apple jelly, and vinegar in a saucepan. Baste the pork with the sauce 15 minutes before the pork is cooked through. Bring the remaining sauce to a boil. Boil for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Serve with the pork.

"Sometimes, when I lie in bed at night and look up at the stars, I think to myself, "Man, I really need to fix that roof." Jack Handey