Christmas Songs

What are your favorite Christmas songs? Here's mine:

365: Nicole C. Mullen

One Silent Night (God So Loved the World): Jaci Velasquez

O Holy Night: Sara Groves (new tune, traditional words)

All the songs I've heard by Sara Groves this Christmas are great. She has a unique take on the tunes that makes them interesting. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas and It Came Upon a Midnight Clear are on her album O Holy Night.

Any song by the Carpenters.

Naming Contest!

This summer I developed a recipe for breakfast that needs a name.

1 serving:
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 c water
1/3 c old-fashioned oats
1 T ground flax seeds
2 T wheat bran
1/16 t baking soda
dash of salt
cinnamon to taste.
Bake in a mini loaf pan at 375 F for 30 minutes.

Partially consumed breakfast. If you can't tell from the picture, it looks like banana bread.

The name should be creative and appetizing. Post your idea in comments.

A few more pics...

Front of the house:

Back of the house:
The colors are strange because I took them just before the sun set and had to play around with the contrast and brightness since they were too dark.

Hello, it's been a while...

...since my last post. I started this blog on the suggestion of my friend Karen to document the building process of our new home. Well, now that the house is finished, here are some before and during photos. I'll don't have a good after photo of the outside yet.

January 26, 2008


February 9, 2008


May 3, 2008

Back of house, July 25, 2008

John, Tony and I moved last weekend and there is still a lot of unpacking and organizing left to do, but we are loving finally living here.

Pumpkin Pie for Christmas

Pumpkin Pie for Christmas

Last weekend I was discussing with my mom her menu for Christmas. She's not planning to make pumpkin pie, even though we all love it because she made one at Thankgiving and because "it's not a Christmas dessert." I happen to disagree, and so do several Christmas/winter song writers.

Home for the Holidays:
I met a man who lives in Tennessee,
He was headin’ for, Pennsylvania,
and some home made pumpkin pie.

Sleigh Ride:
There's a happy feeling nothing in the world can buy
When they pass around the coffee and the pumpkin pie.

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree:
Rocking around the Christmas tree,
let the Christmas spirit ring
Later we'll have some pumpkin pie
and we'll do some caroling.

Over the River and Through the Woods:
Over the river and through the woods
Now Grandma's cap I spy
Hurrah for fun the pudding's done
Hurrah for the pumpkin pie.


I guess I'll just have to console myself with Mom's best in the world coconut cake-made with coconut, coconut milk and coconut icing. Mmmm.

Merry Christmas!

Well, Christmas is a week away. The tree's not up yet and I did not get any cards sent. But all the shopping is about done and some wrapping is finished. I have enjoyed getting cards from friends and family, especially those including photos.

I heard the end of this song last night on the radio. It's called It's All About the Cross, which doesn't really sound like a Christmas song. We are always so busy this time of the year and it's hard to remember the reason we celebrate. This song really spoke to me and I wanted to share it with everyone.

Merry Christmas!

More from Helicopter Ride

The drill rigs I've been working with are carried from site to site by helicopter. On the last day, I got to take a ride in it and we went to Blacksburg. It was a great trip, one that I'll never forget.

Working Hard and Helicopter Ride

Here's a few pictures of the project I've been working on along I-81. The top photo is the Virginia Tech Smart Road and the bottom one is me on the job.

Product Review: Freshette

Disclaimer: not for the squeamish or easily embarrassed.

For the past few weeks, I've been working on the side of I-81 logging geotechnical borings. There aren't many bathrooms on top of the mountains on the roadside. So, I ordered an item called the Freshette, which is a "feminine urinary director for women of all ages" (from the product package.) It basically allows a woman to relieve herself while standing and with a minimum of undressing. While working in the woods with a bunch of guys in the cold, it was a Godsend. I recommend one for all my gal pals who work or play outdoors.

Mine came from Cabela's website (see here), where you can read more reviews.

A cute photo of the Freshette in action.

A word of advice: practice first at home for a few weeks before you need it.

Tony the Hokie Kitty

Everyone here at the Booth residence is a Hokie-even our cat, Tony. This is picture of Tony modeling a fleece vest I made for my dad's puppy, Whiskers, because of the winter weather coming on. I hope to get a picture of Whiskers wearing it, because he loves to wear a vest.

Link for free doggie vest online:
http://www.sewing.circleofcrafters.com/freepetvestpattern.html

I am working on an exciting project at work that involves describing rock cores that are drilled on the side of I-81 between Ironto and Chrisitiansburg. The days are 12 hours long and the rotation is 10 days on and 4 days off. The news crews are supposed to be onsite this Friday morning, so look for us on TV. The crummy part is that I'll have to miss the VT vs. Miami game. At least I'll get to listen to the second half. At the risk of sounding whiny, today was hard and I have yet to get used to the work. Tomorrow will be better, I'm sure!

Virginia Tech vs Clemson game

This weekend John, his sister Sheri, and I traveled to the Virginia Tech/Clemson University football game in Clemson. This was my first trip there, but John went to a game back in college. The atmosphere was much more relaxed in regards to tailgating than for home games-there were people parked everywhere. We arrived and set up around noon. The weather was nice and we had a great time. Truthfully, I was expecting a loss, but the Beamerball special teams action came through for us.

A Blog is Born!

Well, I finally did it-started a blog. This will be a place for me to let my friends and family know what's going on in our lives. I haven't planned a theme, but plan on including things to keep more in touch with those near and far.