Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Chasing Away the Winter Doldrums!

Well, besides still battling the last of this bug that has been plaguing me, I have been down with a major case of the winter doldrums. The Bah Humbugs! So I decided to post some of the pictures of Thanksgiving and birthday week, to remind me of the wonderful time my daughter and granddaughters, son Greg, and dear friend Eileen and I had together. Since I have several pictures here, I hope you won't be too bored with them.

My daughter took this picture of Eileen and me at the lovely restaurant where we all had lunch. And the waitresses even came and sang the Happy Birthday Song, to me! :-)

Here are my granddaughters Nichole and Hannah with Uncle Greg, in the woods. The girls think Uncle Greg is a cool and fun guy to hang out with!





City girls enjoy hiking around in Nana's woods!




And they also enjoy riding around on the 4-wheeler.



Since the weather was mild and beautiful the entire week they were here, we decided to go to the river, too. And as you can see, The Current River is beautiful even in November!



And here are the girls by our cabin on the river.


Alas, our visits are never long enough, and I always miss them when they leave for home. :(



I also had some good news in the mail this past week.
I received my copy of the Winter 2009 issue of "Pure Inspiration Magazine," with one of my stories in it. As a writer, I'm always happy to see my work in print.

I also received the new "Chicken Soup for the Soul, Loving Our Cats," book with my story in it.

And I have a story in "The Big Book of Christmas Joy: An Inspirational Treasury to Celebrate the Season," published by Howard Books.



I also have three awards I will acknowledge very soon, friends.



Thank you for visiting. I hope you are all doing well and ready for the holiday, unlike me.


Ah, and today is Chinese Buffet day. That should also help chase the winter doldrums. :-)




Blessings from the woods!



34 comments:

Jenn said...

Woohoo Great title, now where is the post?
Hugs
Jenn

Jenn said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Nonnas News said...

I love seeing all the pictures!! I hope your feeling better soon.

Brenda said...

Renie,
I am going to be on the lookout for your stories in those books! My husband and I are addicted to books, and are always at the books stores and at the library. I will write these down and hunt for them. Hope the blahs go away soon for you. I have been the same way.
Hugs from St Charles!
Brenda

Lakeland Jo said...

Hurray for Chinese buffet day- I like to hear about it. What are your favourites. I like the look of that Christmas book with your story in it- will investigate. I love inspirational books.
I hope your bug feels a lot better soon- I am about to drink some echinachea tea to try to rid my body of the bug I have got. Still no voice!!

audrey` said...

Dearest Renie

(((HUGS))) and more (((HUGS))) to you, my dearest Friend =)

Congratulations on your stories which are printed in the books! We're very proud of you, Renie =)

The photos are so fabulous.

Please take very good care of yourself (((HUGS)))

Granny Annie said...

That peaceful river certainly beckons me.

Jenn said...

i like the pic of the girls on the 4X4 the wookds look so peaceful and the girls look so happy!

Jmkdreak said...

Woo hoo! good mail week.
you got the cilike books too!
next time we'll get chinese, yum.

xox

Gigi Ann said...

Renie,

Glad you had a wonderful visit with the family. And the Chinese Buffet sounds great. That should help chase away those Winter Doldrums. Glad to hear you are starting to feel better.

Have a nice week.

Ann

Liz said...

Hi Renie

Looks like you've been making a major effort to sweep out those Wilnter Doldrums. I love the photos. Your Granddaughters are gorgeous. The colours in the trees are just stunning. I think Christmas Spirit is also in your home too. Hope that bug is vanishing fast. Wonderful to hear about your stories too.
Keep getting better and say Hi to your friendly possums from me.

Love Liz

Mike Golch said...

I know that it has been a while since I visited last.great photos,I hope that you have a blessed day.

Mary said...

Renie,

It looks like you and your family had a wonderful time at Thanksgiving. I'm sure you miss them all when they head for home.

Your photos are beautiful, as always. Congratulations for having your stories published. I haven't had anything published in print for a long time, but write monthly for two websites.

Enjoy your woods and be careful.

Blessings,
Mary

Winifred said...

Those photos are lovely and so are your girls! They must enjoy visiting you it looks lovely where you live.

I hope you are managing to throw off your bug. It's awful how it hangs around. My little grand daughter is struggling with one and won't miss nursery as she is a Whoopsy Daisy Angel in the play. Should be fun.

Congratulations on your publications. I'm going to look out for them. Not sure if they're available here but I'll check.

hippo chick said...

Hi Renie,

I've been missing your posts. I love the pictures of your family on their visit. You have such a lovely place in the woods.

It's fun to have a cool uncle. My girls always loved their Uncle Verne too. He and Bonnie didn't have children of their own and always fussed over all the nieces and nephews.

Glad you are feeling better. Things are looking up here too.

~hippo hugs~

Patty said...

Sorry you've had the bug, glad you're starting to feel better. Photos look like you had a lovely time with your friend and also your family. You have some beautiful granddaughters. And congratulations on your three stories being printed. Abe was always tickled when something he had submitted was finally published. Hope the Chinese Buffet was delicious. I love Kung Pao Chicken, and hot Sour Soup, also Crab Rangoon. Those things called Pot Stickers are also good, but sometimes the garlic really upsets my stomach. If I don't get around again, hope you have a very Merry Christmas. I also hope you received my birthday card and Thanksgiving card I sent you through the e-mail.

Patsy said...

So glad you are cheering up and how great to have so many storys out at once. Your family is lovely .I know how you miss them. We are moving to Jonesboro 22 of December. It happen so fast. We saw the new house on Wednesday and signed papers on Friday.
Patsy

Deborah Wilson said...

Renie,

Wonderful pics! And it's good to see Eileen again, and how is her wrist doing?

Chinese Buffet - now I'm hungry. We have a great place in Mableton to eat Chinese, it's called The House of China. Me and the boys have been eating there for 20 years.

Shirley Mary said...

Enjoyed looking at the pictures and Congratulations on your stories being printed. . that's exciting news for us too!

Glad you are feeling better and hope you have a wonderful and blessed Christmas and may all the winter doldrums hide far away!

love, mary

Jaina said...

Looks and sounds like a great Thanksgiving. And a big congrats on your publication!

Unknown said...

Wow, Renie, with that grand Thanksgiving and all the neat things happening in your life I don't believe that the doldrums have a chance!

Blessings to you and yours.

ancient one said...

Yay... good news on the stories being published!

I'm sorry the bug is still hanging around, but most people have to deal with this one for some time. It will get better.

Loved the photos. That's a good mood changer. Get out the photos and remember the fun times. That river picture is simply beautiful!

I know what you mean about missing the company once they go home... the very next day is always such a downer... but maybe they'll all get a chance to come again for Christmas.

Luv-n-hugs!

Linda said...

I always enjoy your photos. You are right, the picture of the river is beautiful this time of the year.

Congratulations on your publications! I was recently scanning some of the Chicken Soup books looking for your name. Had I found it I would have purchased the book. I need to make note of the books where you are published.

Nancy said...

Cheer up, dear Renie! We all get that way. The way I look at it, things couldmbe worse, and there are people out there in nursing homes with no one coming to visit them. So that always makes me realize how fortunate I really am. Wish I lived closer....we'd make some fudge and eat it all! THAT would cheer us both up! LOL

Love you, Renie! Now you cheer up....Santa is watching you!!!

(((((( HUGS ))))))

Tammy Pearson said...

Wow, I am impressed, I will have to go out and buy the books to read your story and brag on you...how great is that to see your story in print like that.
Congratualtions, and I really hope that you are feelig better.
Tammy

star in heaven said...

Renie,

Hugs..hugs.. hope you get well soon.

Congratulations for having your stories published. And I love your photos.. Thanks for sharing

Anonymous said...

Hey Renie, I have been pretty busy the last few weeks with more to come. My family visited rom Arkansas for 16 wonderful days, now my Daughter and family are coming. I have just completed two more quilts and they are now mailed. two more arrived from teh quilter to be bound. Now i am ready to wrap them up. I miss my friends post, I will do better soon. Thank you so much for taking time to respond to my blog. I sure appreciate it, makes me feel like I am being listened to.
Thank you again, dear blogger friend. May God Richly bless you.

Unknown said...

Sorry to hear your not feeling all of that great and hope you will be able to beat up that bug and start feeling better soon.

I never heard of the saying of doldrums before...um...learn something new all of the time here. :)

I will keep a look out for the two books you just mention here, for I would love to see what you had wrote.

Those girls surely looked like they were having fun.

sandy said...

Wow, you have lots to help get rid of those winter doldrums.

Nicole and Hannah are so adorable! What a lucky Gramma..

and wow, how exciting to have your work published. I always enjoy reading you!

I hope you get lots of sunshine and a little warmth soon.

Dawn said...

I hope you are feeling better by now and also not feeling sad. When will you get to see your beautiful family again? The pictures are great! Thanks for sharing!

audrey` said...

Dearest Renie

Sending some (((HUGS))) and smiles to you, my dearest friend.
Take care =)

Hope said...

Hi Renie,
I'm back in Blogland and trying to catch up a bit. You have a beautiful family! I love all the pictures.

Feel better soon and stop by and see me when you can. I'll be on the look out for those books since I already know how much I love your stories! :)

Warm Hugs to you,
Hope

Nonnas News said...

Yes Mam! I have posted the oreo truffles recipe on my recipe blog. Let me know how you like them!
Merry Christmas!!

Grandy said...

Congratulations on all the recent articles you have out there. How exciting!! :)

Those are great pics. I can see why they might lift your spirits.