WE LOVE DA BEARS*BUT WE ALSO LOVE FAVRE!!!!WE CAN'T LOSE!

Monday, December 28, 2009

HERE WE GO, BEARS! HERE WE GO, VIKINGS!!!!!!!
Haley says, "We just can't lose tonight!"

Our son has worked and lived in downtown Chicago for 13 years. We've been to Ditka's and all over downtown. He's had tickets to all the Bears games for years and we've weathered the cold, rain, sleet and snow early on, but now.....it's just tooooo cold and we prefer watching it on the tube. Here's a picture of Christmas Eve of my hubs, Art, with his yearly gift of a Bears tee.

Those who know me know that I adore watching Favre quarterback.....The OLD GUY RULES! So....It will be interesting to see who comes out on top! Hope you are watching with me... My father played semi-pro football and my husband both played and coached high school football for years. Our son, Bri, played in high school till he broke a leg his senior year. He attended U of I and received his masters in Illinois. I guess with all the drama on the Vikings team right now, if I was a betting woman, I'd have to put my money on DA BEARS.....We'll see......Nite, Sparkfriends. Gotta wait and watch. Have a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!! XXOO MARYANN

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HERE WE GO AGAIN!....HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010

Sunday, December 27, 2009

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010 TO MY SPARKFRIENDS, FRIENDS AND FAMILY

With the clamor and the tolling of the bells,
The old year, like a weary traveler, comes finally to
his rest.
In trembling voice, he whispers with his dying breath
A last will and testament for the new year.
To children he bequeaths golden dreams and light
hearts,
To youth, strength and wisdom.
To mothers, love and kindly care;
And to fathers, fortitude and faith.
To those who stand alone, he offers hope and
friendship;
And to all mankind, the precious gift of
understanding.
All these and more the passing year bequeaths;
They are ours for the taking.
Now, in that brief moment
Between the passing of the old and the coming of the
new,
Let me resolve with all my strength
To use well my full measure of the rich heritage,
Keeping, always, the vision of man's humanity to man.
I pray that I may have the grace to move forward
steadfastly,
That I may bring love and hope and charity to those in
need.
And that I continue to have a loving heart.

I LOVE YOU ALL….XO MARYANN

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TAKING A MOMENT*WISHING YOU A PEACEFUL DAY!!

Friday, December 25, 2009

MY SWEET SON, BRIAN AND MY GRANDDAUGHER, HALEY....WITH ME ALL HAPPY AND CONTENT THAT WE ARE ALL TOGETHER!


MOM, LIZ AND DAD, BILL. BRIAN & HIS GIRLFRIEND, HEIDI.....
PRECIOUS TREASURES IN MY LIFE!
We took lots of pictures last night, but this is one I really like to just take a moment to wish you all a peaceful day!!!! HOPE YOU HAD A BEAUTIFUL EVENING AND PRAY THIS DAY IS BLESSED FOR ALL OF YOU!
Everyone was merry and so happy that we were together. Our meatballs and sauce...everyone loved all the food. It was a feast to behold. I will be posting pictures from Art's camera very soon. The festivities were special this year.....so very special! My kids spent the night and we is our tradition, Art and I prepared a breakfast fit for a king.....
The trivet on my breakfast table this morning as we gathered together....

Wishing you all a nice evening.......XO MaryAnn
Thanks to all my fabulous Sparklers for sending goodie, good wishes, gifts, cards and comments on my page and blogs!!!!!!!!!! YOU ARE THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!

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CANTUCCI WOW-TUCCI YUUUUUMMMMY!XOTHX APRIL!!!!!!!

Monday, December 21, 2009

And what to my wandering eyes did appear...but a fabulous Italian recipe and ACTUAL CANTUCCI'S THAT WERE LOVINGLY MADE by my beautiful Sparkfriend. They are a traditional cookie in her family. I was squealing with glee when I got it and just had to try to make them that SAME day....So....I followed the directions to the letter. Here is the first try .....Was I doin' it right???? IT'S SOOOO STICKY! Okay...you said it would be, but when I separated the "logs", one was a lot bigger. When I took some of these to my Italian mother, Elizabeth, she was sooooo excited and delighted. She had always told me that her mother used to make a very "hard and crunchy cookie with nuts in it that she loved. She dipped them in her coffee and they were such a treat for her!" Welllllll...guess what....They were this CANTUCCI or BISCOTTI (as we Americans call them). I was so thrilled to see the delight and hear that story once again...one I hadn't heard since I was a child!
I was going to package some and give them away, but besides sharing them with Mom, it's now my husband, Art's favorite Christmas cookie. Here is a picture of the second batch. Woooohoooo!~ These were near perfect this time and much easier. We've decided this will be a new tradition in our home, too, April. Thanks so very much for your sweet note....your kind gesture....and the recipe! Taking the time to do this during such a busy season is so special that it brought tears to my eyes and put the joy of giving in my heart. MERRY CHRISTMAS and a peaceful, healthy NEW YEAR!!!!!!!! XO MARYANN
Family tradition.....a very special and treasured thing~
GOOD Friends and friendship....GOD'S MIRACLE!

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When you can't dance....get a massage!

Friday, December 18, 2009

As most of you have, I have been so busy shopping, wrapping, cooking and attending ballgames, we haven't been dancing our usual two days a week! I miss it, too. But, alas, I am only one person. I really didn't really realize what a tension reliever this hobby of ours is. Exercise always has a way of relieving stress, too, but the joyous dancing fills me with emotional energy. As I was doing some cleaning for the holidays, I was reminded of the knots forming in the back of my neck and back. I had a great idea. (Parties at the house and our upcoming Christmas Eve party with guests here till the New Year, always forces me into "deep" cleaning and uncluttering...woohoo!). I hadn't had a massage since I broke my back in May, so........guess what? I dropped everything...booked one with my favorite masseuse, and off I went.
Voila!!! I feel like a new woman. So...perhaps....if you stop a moment, take a breath, regroup and treat yourself to a pedicure....anything that is "just for you", even if it's an hour curled up with your favorite book, take the time!!! You will be glad you did....Live and learn. Wish I'd made this a December tradition years ago!!!! Be kind to yourself.....I love you, Sparkfriends. XO

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