Spelling Out Christmas

Here is another post to add to my collection of '31 Days Of Blogmas'. I decided to take a different twist with my post and spell out Christmas. The rules are simple. You spell out Christmas. With each letter you write something that represents Christmas to you. When you think of the letter C and Christmas together, what word comes to mind. Elaborate on it. 

C : Christmas - It is my favorite holiday season. As I want to believe Christmas has magic. As people tend to be the most generous and giving this time of year. They place their difference aside and actually help each other. 

H : Horses - I think of horses pulling a sleigh down snowy roads. Families bundled up going to grandma's house.

R :  Rudolph the Rednose Reindeer - He is my favorite Christmas story. As it shows someone who has been bullied and made fun of all of his life can succeed in life. It inspired me as a child, as I was bullied by my peers.

I : Ice Skating - Christmas reminds of time when my siblings and I recived ice skates for Christmas. We would skate on the pond in our ice skates til we out grew them. I look back on that time with fond memories.

S : Sweet Potatoes - Whether they are called yams or sweet potatoes, they are a holiday favorite at Christmas time. I prefer to eat them over white potatoes. As I long for Christmas to be able to enjoy some of my favorite foods.

T : Tree - Christmas trees are a a traditional tree put up and decorated for the Christmas holidays. Some are fake, some are real. Fir, pine and spruce trees are normally chosen for real live Christmas trees. I never had the opportunity to have a real tree as a Christmas tree. I remember a friend as I was growing up had one. They had to water it all the time. I remember one time the family either forgot to water it or just didn't do it. As the tree died before Christmas morning. As I was looking at their dead Christmas tree, I decided it was too much work to have a live Christmas and never had a desire to get one. 

M : Miracle - I believe I hear about more miracles during Christmas time. I do wish people would keep creating miracles throughout the year for others. Not only on Christmas time. I have never experienced a Christmas miracle. Yet, I still choose to believe they are real. 

A : Acceptance - During the Christmas holiday there is more acceptance. I do believe people will accept others in to their homes more than any other time of year for those who are are alone or feel lonely. 

S : Snow - I grew up with having a snowy white Christmas. I find it depressing when I wake up and don't get to see it. I don't know why but a snowy white Christmas brings me great joy. 

Winter Weather - Blogmas2016

For this '31 Days of Blogmas' post, I want to write about the weather in my area. I live in the northern part of the USA. I receive the typical weather you hear bout in Christmas stories where it gets cold and snows. Occasionally we get a blizzard. 

Right now the temperature is 5 degrees in my area. Wind is as slow as 6 mph, which is good for those who live in a drafty home. As when the wind picks up, those who live in drafty homes, feel like they are standing outside.

Chances of perspiration 18% til Saturday when it rises to 58%. As it is calling for more snow and freezing rain or sleet. I live on what my city considers a side road. They do not plow or salt on side roads. Many people get stuck because some neighbors decide to push all the snow from their driveways on to the road. Driving must be done with cautious and riving at a snail's pace. 

What is the weather like in your area of the world?

Photos taken by and © belong to Sandy K aka rusty2rusty.

Building A Gingerbread Train

I enjoy building gingerbread houses, trains,ugly sweaters and more each holiday season. This year I choose to buy all ready made kits. All I had to do was put them together. I choose a "Gingerbread Train Kit" and a "Gingerbread Doghouse kit". I still have to put the "Gingerbread Doghouse Kit" together. I'll tell you more about that in another post. 

The kit came with everything you see in the photo. It had frosting, candy decorations and gingerbread pieces for the train. 

Some pieces we had to break apart. Some pieces had extra gingerbread that had to be broken off. At least non of the pieces were broken.

There was candy dots of different colors, different colored gum drops, green icing and blue and white tiny snowflakes. Plus, two frosting nozzles included for the white frosting.

I was able to use the tray the gingerbread pieces came on to help set up the train. It was a big help in keeping all the pieces in place long enough to set up. Before I could decorate.

I took a better part of the night decorating the Christmas Gingerbread Train. The next day my son, his fiance' and my 2 year old grandson came over. Next time I seen the train it had candy pieces missing from it. It did not stand a chance. It did not last 24 hours before my daughter or my grandson was eating from the train. 

Lesson Learned

That teaches me I better get a full picture of the completed train before anyone comes over. No matter how late I stay up decorating it. I will remember that when decorating the "Gingerbread Doghouse Kit".

Other articles you maybe interested in learning about Gingerbread :

http://wp.me/p5kHFF-1o8 

Have you made a gingerbread house or anything gingerbread this holiday season?If not, are you planning to?

Photos taken by and © belong to Sandy KS aka rusty2rusty.

Christmas Symbolizes.....

One of the suggestions to write about on the "31 Days Of Blogmas" is what Christmas symbolizes to me. This one is hard for me to write about. As I actually had to sit back and think about. I do my best thinking when I am in the kitchen. I put together a Christmas Gingerbread Train. I went on to bake a Cranberry Orange Bread. As it was baking I started thinking about what Christmas means to me.

Christmas is my favorite holiday. As it is the one time throughout the year that you get to see and hear about people helping each out and giving of themselves. I was brought up to celebrate Christmas for the birth of Jesus Christ. To me it is much more than that. It is about family. A time when family can come together and forgive each other. It is suppose to be a time of joy and happiness. The one time of year where you can let all worries go and be happy. 

I don't know with how everything is messed up in the world and my family. It seems what Christmas is all about has been lost. Maybe it doesn't mean the same to everyone else in my family or the meaning got lost, I don't know. I got the Christmas tree up and going through the motions. It doesn't feel the same this year. 

I feel lost. Yet, I still believe in the magic of Christmas.

What does Christmas symbolize to you?

Christmas Tradition Blogmas2016

One of the things to write about on the "31 days of Blogmas" is about Christmas traditions. My children are no longer small. So, some traditions change. Some stay the same. 

One Christmas tradition is putting up the Christmas tree. I use to have a tall artificial Christmas tree with lights. AllI had to do was put it together and decorate. I lost that tree when I lived in my old in the place before this one. As the roof was leaking and ruin all my Christmas tree stuff. Things I had collected for years and the children's ornaments. 

I moved from that place into where I live now. I have no room for that size tree now. So, I replaced it with a small tree that sets on my kitchen table. Usually the kids help decorate. This year, it was only me. They had no interest. That is teenagers for you. Doesn't it look beautiful all lit up? Now to find some small ornaments to decorate the next time I go shopping.

What is a Christmas tradition you celebrate?

Photos taken by and © belong to Sandy KS aka rusty2rusty.

10 Things To Buy A Blogger For Christmas

I have been writing or blogging online since the early 2000’s. Receiving a present to help me enhance or complete a blog post is thrilling. That tells me, the gift giver was listening to me.

Here are 10 things you should put on your list to buy for the blogger in your life :


Notebooks / journals : A notebook or journal is important for a blogger. As it is where they place all their ideas they jot or write down. Many times a blogger will write down a rough draft in their notebook or journal before having it go live on a blog post.


Pens or pencils – Gifting pens or pencils of different colors are important tools for bloggers. As it allows the blogger to log different things down. Which can be found at a glance depending on the color. This works for anyone with OCD who likes to be organized. I prefer pens. As I think ink lasts longer on paper. Compared to lead.


Highlighters – Highlighters are a great tool for bloggers. As the blogger can cross off the topic or idea out of their notebook or journal. Still being able to see it, access it, as a way to review things when notebook / journal is complete or to go back and reference a part written down.


USB Flash drive – Those cute little portable USB flash drives are a great resource for any blogger to store articles, photos, idea, social media url’s, blog links, referral links, references and more.


Coffee cups – I tend to drink coffee or tea when I first wake up and start blogging. My favorite coffee cup was broke. I have yet to find a suitable replacement for it. I like to find a unique one that fits well in my hand. That is different from the ordinary coffee cup.


Single Snacks – I like to keep a stash of single snack near the area I am working at. Whether it is at my desk on my computer or sitting at a park blogging on my tablet. Snacks help me deter from over eating. I tend to choose healthy snacks. As I have type two diabetes. Depending on if my sugar is high or low depend son what snack I will eat. Snacks also help a blogger to shave off hunger while writing their blog. Instead of buying a greasy burger at the nearest fast food joint.


Throw blankets – Those small throw blankets you can as cheap as $3.00 from Wal-mart are a good present for any blogger. As in the colder regions of the world. A warm throw blanket can be used to keep a blogger’s feet or lap warm while blogging. If you can't get to Walmart, you can order off Amazon and get your blanket within two days with Amazon prime.


Gift certificate – You can buy a blogger a gift certificate in any amount for them to put towards their internet bill. Or help them get cable if they are blogging on nothing but wi-fi.


Amazon codes or Paypal – You can buy a blogger Amazon codes or donate to their Paypal. That way the blogger can buy something they want online. Or use it to buy items they can get cheap to review online.


Camera – This includes camera, camera accessories and or a camera bag. As all of these will help a blogger on their journey. As good quality photos are a must on any blog.

This blog is participating in the "31 Days of Blogmas Challenge".

2 Things That Can Kill Your Dog

I was on Facebook when I came across a post by one of my friends. She mention a friend of her that has a German Shepard was recently diagonised with dysautonomia. If you never heard of it before and have a dog. I suggest you look it up and learn. As it is a nasty but rare condition dogs can get. Normally young dogs are affected. Yet, that doesn't mean older dogs are immune to catching it. 

The worse part of dysautonomia, is there is no known cure or no know source of how a dog could catch this. Nothing confirmed. There is specualtion it could come from garbage or dead rotting animals. Dysautonomia is a death sentennce to most dogs. Rarely do dogs survive dysautonomia. In the rare cases some do survive, it takes a year or more of recovery, which can be costly.

During the same thread on Facebook it was brought up that peanut butter is highly toxic with Xylitol. Xylitol has been banned in some countries, but not the USA. When I learned this, the first thing I did was check to see if my peanut butter had Xylitol in it. As I like making homemade treats for dogs with peanut butter. Mine does not.

While Xylitol is good for diabetics and people with metabolic syndrome. It is not for dogs or birds. It can be deadly. As it can cause low blood sugars in dogs. Since I am a type 2 diabetic, I know what low and high sugars feel like. I would not want any dogs to experience something like that. It is not fun. Sugar going to low can kill as easily as if it gets to high. 

I want to mention before closing that because an item says sugar free, it doesn't mean it is sugar free. As other forms of sugar can be in the item disguised under a different name. Such as Xylitol. What I mention in this article is nothing compared to the mounds of information avaiable. To be a good responsible pet owner, one must be informed of the dangers that can kill our pets.

Photos from Pixabay. The peanut butter was taken by and © belongs to Sandy KS aka rusty2rusty.

5 Christmas Generators – Do You Use Them?

I like to use to generators that have been created all over the internet to help enhance my articles and blog posts. The generators can also be fun just to play around with. In order to find them all you have to do is put different words in your search browser. Such as : Christmas generators. I tend to use Google for this. As Google seems to be able to find more websites.

Here are some of the websites I came across for Christmas generators :

1. Christmas Elf Name Generator
It is easy to use. You add your name and your sex to determine what your Christmas Elf name will be. The names can be written on name tags and used at Christmas parties held at the office, work or home. I turn out to be Gingerbread Iciclecrackers.

2. Christmas Text Logo generator
To use this. You click on the letter you see with the print that you want. Another window opens with more options. To create your image. you can choose to visualize it. Or automatic download. I always visualize it before downloading. As I hate downloading something. Then realizing I don’t like only to delete it.

3. Draw Names for Gift Exchange
This website is a good for helping those families who draw names to buy presents for during holidays or other celebrations. Many families do this. Compared to buying a present for all your extended families that have large families. A gift exchange is less expensive. How the website works, you need to place the list of the names in the square box. Proceed by clicking 'Then click here to generate your name list'. Scroll down and you will see your list of names. You set it up to where spouses don't pick each other, or siblings don't get each other too.

4. Christmas Elf Generator
In this generator, all you have to do is choose male, female or neutral for the generator to choose 10 random elf names. This is great if you want to create a Christmas story, poem or give out elf names to friends at a party. Don’t like the names choose. Click again. The names will change.

5. Funny Christmas Newspaper Generator
This one will cost you a little something if you choose to use it. It can be a Christmas gift for a loved one to hang on their wall. Scroll below, add you first and last name, the city you live in and the state. Add a photo. You can customize the text or use what is already suggested. Click preview my newspaper. Buy if you like what you see.

Do you use Christmas generators?

Naughty Or Nice List Blogmas 2016

Get an instant report from Santa Clause what he has written in his naughty nice list. All you need to do is put your name in and push ask Santa to get the Nice-o-Meter working.

This is what Santa says about me - Just when Santa was about to give a naughty rating, this one came in with a good deed. Great work! Back to the nice list. But watch out for interrupting when others are talking, and burping without an excuse me. Even when I think noone is listening. Remember Santa hears all.

10 Ways To Make The Nice List 

1. Baking Christmas cookies

2. Making a Gingerbread house

3. Leaving a plate of cookies and eggnog out for Santa

4. Helping to put up the Christmas tree
5. Helping to put Christmas decorations
6. Wearing that ugly Christmas sweater your Aunt Helga gave you last year

7. Choosing a child or family from the angel tree to bring gifts to

8. Helping pass out Christmas dinner at the local food bank or shelter

9. Leave a present or homemade treats on your neighbors porch. Knock and disappear before they can answer the door.

10. Go Christmas caroling

10 Ways To Make The Naughty List

1. Knock down the neighborhood snowmen.
2. Not believing in Santa
3. Tearing down neighbors Christmas lights
4. Picking on siblings
5. Not doing chores
6. Throwing snowballs when no snowball fight is going on
7. Trolling the Christmas forums
8. Not shoveling the sidewalk or drivway

9. Not putting ice melt down and someone slipped
10. Not wiping your feet after coming in from the snow or rain.

Can you think of anything else to add to the nice or naughty lists?

Photo from Pixabay.com, a free use photo sharing website.

10 Christmas Songs To Listen To This Holiday Season

Another way I enjoy getting in to the Christmas spirit is listening to Christmas music after Decemeber 1st rolls around. I am going to share ten different Christmas songs in no perticular order from one to ten. A list looks better when it is numbered. Many of these songs I do not know how orginal wrote them or the year. I am sharing ones you can easily look up on Youtube to hear some of my favorite singers.

10 Christmas Songs To Listen To This Holiday Season

1. "Santa Clause Is Coming To Town", this is a song I have heard all my life. It reminds me of children Christmases. You better watch Santa Clause is checking his list. he is checking it twice.

2. "I'll Be Home For Christmas" By Twisted Sister, featuring Lita Ford. Many people, not just band members are out traveling during the Christmas seasons. Such as our young men and women in our armed forces.

3. "The Little Drummer Boy" sung by Bob Seger is about a little poor who has nothing to offer for Christmas to the new born King except playing a song on his drum. A song that proves you don't have to spend money to give something from yourself to someone else for Christmas.

4. "Silent Night" by Stevie Nicks. I have alwasy enjoy listening to her beautiful voice. I really don't know what this song is all about except sleep. It has always brought tears to me eyes. If you know please explain it to me.

5. "My Decemeber" By Linkin Park. This song is an apolgy and someoen not wanting to be alone. They realize holidays are better spent with others, than alone. If you are not talking to a loved one or friend, Christmas time is the perfect time to make amends without placing blame on who is right or wrong.

6. "So This Is Christmas" sung by Celine Dion is about Christmas a day where families come together to celebrate. No matter if they are poor or rich, or the color of the skin doesn't matter.

7. "Jingle Bell Rock". I had to share this song to liven up my spirit. As I was to get up and move around. dance or start baking my little ol head off.

8. "Run Rudolph Run" by Chuck Berry. This is another song that gets me moving and in the Christmas spirit. When I feel like I am pressed for time during the Christmas season. I listen to this and know I am not the only one.

9. "Carol Of Bells" by Metallica. This is an instrumental. You can tell it has Metallica's touch, any true fan would recongize their music. Even if a Christmas tune is put to it.

10. "Christmas In Hollis" sung by Run DMC. If you like 80's rap, here is a Christmas one to add to your list. 

I hope you like my selections. As these ten songs doesn't begin to put a dent in all the different Christmas songs. Nor sung by various singers. I hope they help you get you in to the Christmas spirit.

What are your favorite Christmas songs?

Photo from Pixabay.