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handfulofrubies
07 May 2009 @ 10:02 am


Eternal God, our only hope,
our help in times of trouble:
show nations ways to work out differences.
Do not let threats multiply
or power be used without compassion.
May your will overrule human willfulness,
so that people may agree and settle claims peacefully.
Hold back those who are impulsive,
lest desire for vengeance overwhelm our common welfare.
Bring peace to earth, through Jesus Christ,
the Prince of Peace and Savior of us all. Amen
----------------------------------------------------

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not seek so much
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.



 
 
handfulofrubies
12 April 2009 @ 10:24 am


Easter flowers are blooming bright,
Easter skies pour radiant light,
Christ our Lord is risen in might,
Glory in the highest!


He Is Risen!!
Hope you all have a happy Easter!!


Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!
Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
Who did once upon the cross, Alleluia!
Suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!


 
 
handfulofrubies
02 April 2009 @ 02:10 pm
Getting abducted April 25th http://www.invisiblechildre...

Have you heard of the organization Invisible Children? Are you familiar with the child soldiers in Sudan? Go here: http://therescue.invisiblechildren.com
 
Watch the video!

April 25th, people will come together in several locations around the world to abduct themselves to raise awareness and bring justice for all the abducted children.

Sign up and look for a location in your country.



 
 
handfulofrubies
26 March 2009 @ 01:25 pm

I love this picture - its my cocoa, and i used my seven up semi-filter

I'm so excited!!!!!!!
What has taken sometimes hours  will now only be minutes or even seconds - i Can finally  upload lots of pictures.
 
 
handfulofrubies

color splash  - yellow forsythia bush in my backyard

thru the bottle... click for more )



 
 
handfulofrubies
Have you ever heard of Prince Rupert's drops? Do you stress out a lot?

"If you want a scientific display of the dangers of pent-up stress, Prince Rupert’s drops are it. After the trauma of being dropped molten-hot into a bucket of cold water, these glass balls, named for a 17th-century amateur scientist, turn into bundles of high tension. They’re impervious to even the strongest blows, until you find their hot button: Flick the tail, and they explode.

When molten glass hits cold water, its outer surface cools rapidly and shrinks as it solidifies. Since the center is still fluid, it can flow to adjust to the outer shell’s smaller size. As that center eventually cools and solidifies, it also shrinks, but now the outer shell is already solid and can’t change its shape to accommodate the smaller core.



Hot Head : When molten glass drips into cold water, the outside cools—and shrinks—faster than the inside (still red-hot in this photo), creating pent-up tension.  Mike Walker; special thanks to Glass Lake Studio
The result is a great deal of internal stress, as the center pulls the outside in from all sides. Like a tightly wound spring, the glass is set to release a lot of energy. If you break the thin glass at the tail, a chain reaction travels like a shock wave through the drop. As each section breaks, it releases enough energy to break the next section, and so on, shattering the whole drop in less than a millisecond.

Paradoxically, the same tension also makes the Prince Rupert’s drop stronger. Glass breaks when tiny scratches pull apart and spread into fractures. Since the surface is compressed by internal stress, scratches can’t grow, and the glass is very difficult to break. I took a hammer to the thick end of some drops, which I got from a local glassmaker, and they stayed intact. Even the tail is stronger than it looks."



 
 
handfulofrubies
21 December 2008 @ 10:56 pm


Merry Christmas, from Pilot Mountain!!!


Charpiat's Christmas lights - they used rope lights and created
the Pilot Mountain


I absolutely love the lighted, Christmas balls that hang from the trees - the Charpiats decorate
with 100,000 lights




Have A Very, Merry, Christmas!!!  Happy Holidays!!!



 
 
handfulofrubies
Folie A Deux comes out tomorrow, Fall Out Boy's new album. I'm so envious, when things happen, they always happen in Chicago (FOB's hometown) or New York City. So, Fall Out Boy met and other Decaydance members met up at Washington Sq. Park this afternoon for a secret/impromptu/Twitter updated jam, but apparently Police got the update too, and wouldn't let them play since they didn't get permits for it. Which, they figured would happen, but its still a shame that you can't do something like that spur of the moment. Apparently the kids/fans that showed up sang songs with them anyway, ,i guess without instruments, idk. I would have loved to have been there. Apparently, Pete will be in Times Square at midnight giving something out to kids who find the address he will be at. He puts these anagrams up and then you have to decode them and figure out where he might be. Like a game; I like it.

Went shopping today. Finally. Got a couple presents. Walked around the mall and showed my sister what I wanted for Christmas.

Tom, how can you not know who Rob Pattinson is? He plays the lead vampire, Edward, in the movie Twilight, lol. He played Cedric Diggery in Harry Potter.  Maybe Twilight fanaticism hasn't hit Britain big yet. I think they're premiering Twilight in London on Friday, so I imagine you will see his face on tv, if you watch the news, or entertainment stuff. He's sooo big here, maybe I know so much more about him because of my sister being obsessed. He's quite hot!!! He's all over the celebrity news shows here, and they did a lot of press here to advertise the movie.

Maybe tomorrow I can add more pics to my LJ posts. My sister is kicking me off. Went to Krispy Kreme. took a pic. show you all tomorrow.
 
 
handfulofrubies
  
assorted hershey's: HERSHEY, Mr. Goodbar, Krackel, Reeses

M&M's, Peanut M&M's, Snickers, Almond Joy, Kit Kat, York Peppermint Patties, Baby Ruths, Reeses,
Reeses cups may be my all time favorite, I mean, who doesn't enjoy chocolate and peanut butter?
 
Dove Chocolate bars, dark chocolate -

Butterfinger, these are the miniature bells which I think are really good because its just a bite, plus they're usually softer


regular butterfinger bar - a favorite, definitely my mom's favorite - i just hate when they aren't fresh, because i like the crunch, but a fresh crunch


Fifth Avenue  - I forget that these are good


Hershey's Cookies and Creme - when these first came out like 15 years ago, my sister and I really liked them, and I think I had them too often and now I hate to even see the packaging, but I use to love them


This isn't necessarily chocolate, rather a chocolate dipped apple, covered in nuts, or candy pieces - I see them at fairs and stuff and I've always wanted to try one


I get these at the movies, the rainbow, various flavor nerds


Jolly Ranchers hard candy - I love the sour apple and cherry versions of this candy



Werther's Orignal Chewy Caramels are tasty



Do you get these at the theatre? Everyone has had these at the theatre growing up.


These aren't usually my first picks, but I like them around Halloween; they have that "crunch" lol



I haven't had them in years, but my sister use to eat them a lot and I picked up liking them from her



My sister's favorite non-chocolate candy probably - but, she just eats the red and blue ones and gives me the orange, green and yellow



These are around for when I want a quick breakfast, which is a lot, and I HAVE TO eat them milk, nothing else is good with them



Godiva Chocolates are really good, they even have a store in the mall, but they're usually out of my price range, or what I WANT to spend on chocolate. Sometimes, maybe once every two years, lol, I might go in and get a chocolate covered strawberry, but those are like $2.25, for a strawberry!



Can't imagine what something like this would cost. I don't even want to know. Sometimes, outside of the store, in the mall you'll find a bar of Godiva chocolate for sale, and the bars run about $4.00. Someday I'll treat myself to one, but when I can stop by the store and get a Reeses cup for .39, I'm going to choose a Reeses.

I'm sure I have missed some things, but these are a lot of the candies that I like - which ones do you like? I want to see candies/snacks that you like
Oh, I did see that Dairy Bar you were talking about Tom, made by Cadbury  it looks to be good too

 
 
handfulofrubies
11 December 2008 @ 04:15 pm



me and alex


me and we the kings




ian and alex


alex deleon


travis, the redhead


Hunter and Travis


Hunter - Amber wanted to take him home

 

 
 
handfulofrubies
25 November 2008 @ 10:56 pm
1. Which do you like better: hosting Thanksgiving at your home, or going elsewhere?
For years we went to my Grandmother and Granddaddies house for Thanksgiving and celebrated with my Aunt, Uncle and two cousins. When my Grandparents' health started failing, they had to move into an apartment and traditions changed. There were big family drama's and the past 3-4 years we've eaten with my Grandparents' and now we have my Grandmother and Grandma over to our house. I would love to be able to go back to having it like we used to, but having it at our house is pretty fun too.

2. Do you buy a fresh or frozen turkey? Organic? Free-range?
My mom bought a fresh turkey breast this year, but she has done the fresh/frozen whole turkey many times before.

3. Do you make stuffing or dressing? What kind?
My mom makes apple/sausage dressing

4. Sweet potato pie or Pumpkin pie?
Neither

5. Are leftovers a blessing or a curse?
I love leftovers

6. What side dishes are a must-have in your family.
Stuffing, mashed potatoes, corn spoon bread, green beans


7. What do you wish you had that might make Thanksgiving easier?
A larger table that could seat 8 comfortably. We can make it work, but it really seats six, unless we add the inserts.

8. If/when you go to someone else’s house for the holiday, do you usually bring a dish? If so, what is it? Corn Spoon bread

9. What do you wish one of your guests would bring to your house?
My aunt is bringing her layered pea salad, yummy

10. What do you wish one of your guests would NOT bring to your house?
no fruitcake

11. Do you stick with a particular menu from year to year, or do you mix it up?
We like traditional foods - i don't ever want to see just finger foods or sandwiches - no making it easy

12. Is Thanksgiving a religious or secular holiday in your home?
Both, I guess. More secular, but an individual can make it whatever they want

13. Share one Thanksgiving tradition.
Some of my cousins and I try to get together and see a movie - sometimes it works and sometimes it doesnt.  The Day after, my mom, sister and I go to the Craftsman's Classic Holiday market each year.

14. Name five things you’re thankful for.
God's many blessings throughout the year.
Having family to spend holidays with - I feel bad for anyone who has no one to spend the Holidays with and we saw that a lot in assisted living centers over the years
My Parents
My sister
Clarity - to see some people for who they are truly are
New friends when I least expected them, and penpals that I cherish :)
Music - what would life be like without my favorite artists?

 
 
handfulofrubies
25 November 2008 @ 10:20 pm

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot chocolate. 

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree?  He use to do a little of both. Some of the larger gifts were just left out, unwrapped to get that instant ahhhhh moment. Then some of the smaller things were wrapped.   -- Now, almost all of our gifts are wrapped - I love wrapping!!

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? I love colorful lights!!  I like white lights twinkling in garland and white candles in the windows.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? We used to hang fake mistletoe at my Grandma's. I've never seen the real stuff because apparently it grows high up in trees and you have to shoot it down to retrieve it.

5. When do you put your decorations up? A couple of days after Thanksgiving at my Grandma's. My sister and I do my Grandma's decorations for her. Our house, usually the first week of December, and then we leave it up to mid to late January.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish? Honey Baked Ham

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child: Watching the Rudolph tracker, Christmas Eve, at my Grandma's house when my cousin, my sister and I were all young. We have pictures of us all in matching nightgowns.  ---  I specifically remember getting a signed Carolina sweatshirt from the 93 UNC Championship Basketball Team for Christmas from my Grandmother and Granddaddy - that was a great gift. --- I also remember getting a Scarlett Ohara doll from my Aunt and Uncle and I love/d that doll - I don't see them anymore, so its one of the few things I have left from them. --- Lots of great presents from my mom and dad. I remember one of my first easy bake ovens being absolutely GREAT!!!  -I would fix that small, 4 inch brownie/cake and make my mom wait until my dad got home from work, so we could all share it   :)

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I found the basketball goal that "Santa" had hidden in our tack room. Thankfully, I didn't let my sister see it, so she kept believing for a few years. That's what you get for sticking your nose where it doesn't belong.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Yes, we open our gifts from my dad's side of the family.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? Varies from year to year. Usually red and gold balls are on there. Sometimes we put red berries, and we have a lot of fragile, glass ornaments that go on every year.

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it?  Love it.

12. Can you ice skate?  I used to be able to get around the rink without falling much - like when I was 12.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?  I don't have one favorite - I have several that mean a lot to me.

14. What’s the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Getting to spend time with family.

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert?  Just one thing?   My mom's amaretto pound cake, or my mom's Chess or Pecan pie.

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Going to pick out the tree at a lot in Winston - we go to the same one usually.

17. What tops your tree?  We have an angel.

18. Which do you prefer: giving or receiving?  Well, I live receiving, but I like picking out gifts for everyone and seeing their reactions, so giving is more fun.

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? too many to list, but O Holy Night ranks right up there.

20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum? I don't really like peppermint.
 
 
handfulofrubies
25 November 2008 @ 10:16 pm
Christmas is enchanting [fill in the blank with ONE WORD] - 4 years ago I would have answered with depressing.  I don't think Christmas will ever go by without thinking about the Christmas where we lost my Grandpa, and then two years later when we were losing my Granddaddy through the Holiday season. 

2. In memories, what was the best part of your Christmases past? Having all of my family around. I miss the family that we don't see any more; on both sides of our family.

3. Was Santa ever good to you? [describe how and what] Sure. I got all sorts of great goodies from Santa.

4. Do you open gifts on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or both? Christmas Eve, we open gifts at my Grandma's house. Christmas Day, my grandparents come over to our house and open gifts.  Sometimes a couple of days before Christmas, we go to my Grandpa's sister's house and have a Christmas breakfast.

5. Is there something you make each and every year? [craft or recipe]  Sourdough Bread, crab stuffed mushrooms, cookies

6. What are your favorite five[5] Christmas songs/hymns?
Rudolph
Mary Did You Know
O Holy Night
Silent Night
O Come All Ye Faithful
*I've got so many favorites, I could list my top 40

7. Is there a new tradition for Christmas since your childhood days? Now, we have family over to our house on Christmas Day

8. Describe one of your Christmas trips. [whether it's across town or across country] Well, we used to go to my Grandmother and Granddaddies house (35 minutes away) on Christmas day and there would be around 15 of us there. It was really something to look forward to. But things change, and you have to move on.

9. Do you have a special Christmas outfit to wear for the day? I try to wear something festive and comfortable. When we were little we had our favorite Christmas outfits, usually a dress or a Christmas shirt.

10. Have YOU or any of your family members sat on Santa’s lap? I did as a child.

11. What is/or will be on your Christmas tree this year? i don't know. Usually, its just a mix of ornaments. My mom might have a theme in mind, like rustic, or cabin or pinecones this year, but I like colorful lights and big, pretty balls, something full of color.

12. Do you/or have you decorated your yard for Christmas? We usually put lights out and a wreath on the door, but if we put anything in our yard our dogs would have it chewed up in a matter of minutes (they're so destructive.) Thankfully, we have a new porch and maybe we can deck it out in lights this year.
 
 
handfulofrubies
24 November 2008 @ 11:42 am


So, I've made the starter for my sourdough bread and I'll be feeding it this afternoon. By tomorrow afternoon we will have Sourdough Bread.  So excited - I haven't  made it since last Christmas and its sooooo good. Debating on what else to make for our Thanksgiving meals.  Of course we'll be having Turkey, I'm still not sure what kind yet. My mom will make her sausage and apple dressing/stuffing. We'll probably have mashed potatoes, my bread, green beans or green bean casserole, and something else. I don't do the cranberry sauce but I figure my mom might have some for my grandmother and grandma.

I like to make appetizers and desserts, so what should I make?  I found a recipe for chocolate truffles and I've never made them, so i might try. One year I made crab stuffed mushrooms, one year I made some sugar, cinnamon pecans. We'll probably have some kind of pie or cake or both for dessert. I think we should have a pecan or chocolate pecan pie. Maybe my mom will make her amaretto pound cake.

 

Getting the Christmas music out. What are your favorite Christmas songs?? I like a lot. All sung my multiple/various artists.

Winter Wonderland

Let It Snow!

White Christmas

Sleigh Ride

Silver Bells

Frosty the Snowman

Baby, Its Cold Outside

Jingle Bells

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

Happy Holiday

A Holly Jolly Christmas

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

A Tennessee Christmas

Christmas in Dixie

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

Noel

Mary Did You Know

Santa Claus is Coming to Town - Oak Ridge Boys

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

Rockin Around the Christmas Tree

Jingle Bell Rock

I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day

Up On the Housetop

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Angels We Have Heard On High

It Came Upon A Midnight Clear

O Come' All Ye Faithful

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Good King Wenceslas

O Holy Night


 
 
handfulofrubies
14 November 2008 @ 10:04 pm


Here is the Christmas window my mom, sister and I decorated today. I love the red curtains. I would have loved for them to have spanned the entire window, but the store owner wanted customers to be able to see in, so we just had them frame the window.  We only had a foot wide ledge, so we had to be creative and think small to get things to fit, and still seem balanced. We're not quite finished yet. Where the pinecones are hanging down, I'm going to put a green, painted window, with a NC map behind the panes. Its going to have Santa's path, marked with red ribbon.  And the Santa figure will be pointing at the map. I'll have to put up another picture when its finished.

Hope you all have a good weekend.

 
 
handfulofrubies
06 November 2008 @ 07:54 pm
     <---my favorite



So, I started thinking about Thanksgiving, and one thing I instantly think of is The Macy's Day Parade. If you're not in the States to watch it, it might not mean that much, but its definitely interesting and you should definitely check out some pictures of the floats and balloons. There is nothing else like them - all those cartoon characters we love, and the traditional floats they have every year, like the big turkey, and Santa at the end - oh, it warms my heart just thinking about it.

I also think about movies and television shows I grew up on as a child. Here are some links you might want to check out.


The Berenstain Bears Meet Big Paw Cartoon Picture
Berenstain Bears Thanksgiving

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Berenstein+Bears+Big+Paw+thanksgiving&search_type=

you can download it in three parts - 1,2,3

----------------------

1. A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (DVD) (1973)

A Charlie Brown ThanksgivingPhoto © Paramount Home Entertainment
An Emmy-award winning special, with Charlie Brown in charge of the Thanksgiving dinner where everyone drops by unexpectedly. This DVD also includes "The Mayflower Voyagers" special, a Peanuts rendition of the Mayflower Voyage and the first Thanksgiving. NR

-----------------------

5. Garfield: Holiday Celebrations (DVD) (2004)

Three cartoons featuring the holiday adventures of the lazy, lovable, Garfield. First, Garfield and Odie get stuck in a haunted house populated by spectral pirates in "Garfield's Halloween Adventure." "A Garfield Christmas" features Garfield and Odie home alone while Jon visits Grandma on the farm. Jon has a hot date for Thanksgiving dinner in "Garfield's Thanksgiving" when Liz the veterinarian agrees to come over. Meanwhile, Garfield's on a preparatory diet to get ready for the feast. NR

-------------------------------

Thanksgiving Movie: Miracle on 34th Street

There are several versions of this movie; the best is the original black and white 1947 classic starring Maureen O’Hara and Edmund Glynn. It’s the classic tale of whether Santa Claus is real, and the story takes place on Thanksgiving Day at the Macy’s parade in New York. No matter how many times you see it, it’s a truly heart-touching movie and a perfect way for the whole family to kick off the holiday season at Thanksgiving.

------------------------------
 

The Wizard of OZ
Everyone has probably seen this, so I assume there is no need to summarize. I remember it playing on or around Thanksgiving each year. If you can, also check out the Wizard of OZ cartoons; they're also interesting.
 
 
Current Mood: chipper
 
 
 
handfulofrubies
05 November 2008 @ 03:33 pm
SO, here are some pics that I promised would go up sometime. WE put the yard up in about 2 1/2 days. It was fun, hope you like the photos.




click more for photos )
Tags:
 
 
handfulofrubies
20 September 2008 @ 09:56 pm
Mid day, heard over the internet about Travis Barker and DJ A.M's plane crash in South Carolina last night. Out of six people, they were the only two to survive. Two pilots and Barker's business partner and bodyguard died.  Different people are reporting diff. stories, but supposedly Travis sustained burns from the waist down and is in critical condition and DJ AM sustained burns over 50% of his body and they were the worst on his face and is critical condition.
They don't know as of yet what caused the plane to crash other than that they're saying it outran the runway while taking off, hit some things, ran across a road and hit an embankment and caught on fire.

Its beyond sad. I had never met them, but I still find it upsetting. Plus, I feel sad for all the family members of the four that died. It just makes you think how quickly things can go wrong, when you don't expect it, esp. with planes. And how many of our favorite bands take these kind of trips all the time, thinking its just going to be a quick plane ride home?
 
 
handfulofrubies
15 September 2008 @ 12:02 am










 
 
 
 

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